HARRISBURG – Clearfield County, DuBois, Clearfield Borough and Lawrence Township were all awarded grants for the 2004 recycling efforts.
Clearfield County was awarded $23,621, Clearfield Borough and Lawrence Township were awarded $12,672 to be split evenly between the two municipalities, and DuBois was awarded $6,047.
Gov. Edward G. Rendell said 171 Pennsylvania communities will share grants totaling more than $5.5 million for their recycling efforts in 2004.
“Recycling is a simple decision, yet it can have profound benefits for our environment,” Rendell said. “Recycle today, carpool in a high-mileage vehicle tomorrow, purchase zero-pollution electricity generated from Pennsylvania wind farms next week.
“It is important for us to stay dedicated to the cause of conservation and to reducing waste and inefficiency.
“Reducing waste and conserving natural resources also help our economy and improve quality of life,” Rendell said. “I am honored to award these grants to communities that are supporting the environment and our economy through their recycling programs.”
Pennsylvania’s recycling industry is a leader in employment, payroll and sales. More than 3,200 recycling and reuse businesses and organizations generate more than $18 billion in gross annual sales and provide jobs for more than 81,000 employees at an annual payroll of approximately $2.9 billion. These businesses add more than $305 million in taxes to the state treasury.
“These grants give Pennsylvania communities a direct incentive to recycle,” Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty said. “The more they recycle, the more they receive in recycling performance grants. I encourage local officials to use this money to support even stronger municipal recycling programs, which play an essential role in environmental protection and economic growth in communities across the state.”
In 2004, Pennsylvania recovered nearly 4.8 million tons of recyclable materials. The economic value of remaking those materials into new and useful products exceeded $113 million. Communities avoided some $260 million in disposal costs based on the estimated statewide average disposal cost of $54 per ton.
Pennsylvania’s recycling efforts also save energy, reduce air and water pollution, and limit the need for virgin materials in manufacturing. Pennsylvania’s 2004 recycling efforts saved almost 66 trillion British thermal units of energy, enough to power 643,000 homes for one year in Pennsylvania or the equivalent of conserving 531 million gallons of gasoline.
DEP has approved 747 of 793 recycling performance grant applications and awarded $15.8 million for calendar year 2004 recycling. Additional grant awards will be announced in the coming months.
