Greenwich Receives State Grant for Recycling Program

The Town of Greenwich is one of seven communities in the state that have been awarded more than $60,000 in grants to improve local waste reduction, reuse and recycling programs.

The Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced the $20,000 grant on Tuesday.

“Congratulations to these seven towns for advancing their municipal recycling systems and demonstrating a commitment to a 21st century materials management strategy,” DEEP Commissioner Robert Klee said in a statement. “These communities are taking advantage of DEEP’s resources to further reduce the volume of trash we dispose of, conserve natural resources, and find value in our waste stream.”

The Greenwich Conservation Commission is using the grant for its ‘Leaves: Nature’s Treasures,’ a school and community composting outreach and education program. The program includes establishing onsite food scrap and leaf compost systems for schools and educating residents about the benefits of home composting. Riverside School is one of the schools involved in the program.

Klee said these grants are made possible through DEEP’s Recycling Incentive Grants Program. Through his program, funding is available for municipalities with existing outstanding waste reduction and recycling programs (applications are due on or before Feb. 1) and for municipalities interested in implementing sustainable solid waste financing mechanisms or other waste reduction, reuse, and recycling initiatives.

For more information and to access the Recycling Incentive Grants Request for Proposals and applications, visit www.ct.gov/deep/MuniRecyclingResources.

Photo credit: Kevin Dooley via flickr.com.