Recycling and composting program grants available for municipalities

AUGUSTA — The Maine State Planning Office, through its Waste Management & Recycling Program, is announcing the availability of competitive grant funds to assist with the implementation or expansion of municipal recycling and composting efforts. This grant program is designed to help municipal recycling programs increase their ability to capture more materials, with a focus on corrugated cardboard, and also to develop or expand leaf and yard debris composting operations.

Tim Glidden, Acting Director of the State Planning Office, says that “municipalities have been providing recycling and composting services for their residents and businesses for over 20 years and this grant program recognizes those commitments and is aimed at helping improve those services.”

Eligibility for the competitive grants includes municipalities or publicly supported solid waste programs, with priority given to regional programs. Approximately $300,000 is available in this program with individual grant awards not exceeding $25,000. A local match at least 15 percent of the total grant amount is required; local "match" options include certain "in-kind" contributions as well as a cash match. Applications must be postmarked no later than April 14 or delivered to the State Planning Office by 4 p.m. on April 15. Faxed or e-mailed submissions will not be accepted. The application and process is available at the State Planning Office’s website, www.maine.gov/spo/recycle.