Chestnuthill Township, Coolbaugh Township, Monroe County Waste Management Authority, Middle Smithfield Township, Oak Grove Multi-Municipal Compost Facility, Polk Township, Smithfield Township and Stroud Township were all awarded grants.
Some of the grants, like the $349,205 that went to the Monroe County Waste Authority, will go to bolstering both their leaf collection and recycling programs. According to Jim Lambert, executive director, the grant money will be going to purchasing a new collection truck and specialized equipment for recycling glass.
Lambert added that improper recycling methods have led to cost increases for the Monroe County Waste Authority in recent years and without grant funding, the organization would have difficulty keeping up.
“For us its imperative and we wouldn’t be operational if not for the availability of the grant to at least help us replenish equipment. We would be lost without it,” Lambert said.
The following townships and organizations in Monroe County will receive recycling grants from the state:
Chestnuthill Township $313,871
Coolbaugh Township $301,707
Middle Smithfield Township $33,262
Polk Township $154,433
Smithfield Township $290,512
Stroud Township $350,000
Monroe County Waste Management Authority $349,205
Oak Grove Multi-Municipal Compost Facility $200,815
Many of the others are utilizing the grant funds for leaf collection-related programs as well.
Due to mandates, municipalities with more than 20,000 citizens are required to have a leaf collection program. Some of the grants will go towards purchasing new equipment to replace outdated equipment for their recycling or leaf collection programs.
One of those municipalities is Coolbaugh Township. While Coolbaugh has a leaf collection program, the equipment it is currently utilizing is not the most efficient. With the grant money, the township can purchase a second truck for leaf collection, something that would be impossible without it.
“This is huge,” said Bill Weimer, Coolbaugh Township supervisor. “The residents are really going to be happy about it because now the leaf collection can get done in a timely fashion.”
For Stroud Township, the grant funding means that they will be able to properly dispose of yard waste. Of the $350,000 the township received, $290,000 will go towards the remaining balance of a wood grinder at their Gaunt Road yard waste site and the other $60,000 will go towards a small trailer for hauling yard waste.
