Andover Wins $10K Recycling Dividend State Grant

ANDOVER, MA — Andover was awarded a $10,400 grant to mark America Recycles Day, the Gov. Charlie Baker administration said Monday.

Andover was one of 268 Massachusetts communities and regional solid waste districts to be awarded recycling-related grants. The awards totaled $3.1 million.

"The grants are made available through the Sustainable Materials Recovery Program, which was created by the Green Communities Act of 2008 and has provided more than $46 million to recycling programs since 2010," according to a news release. "At the announcement, Gov. Charlie Baker said the new round of grant funding will aid municipal efforts 'to implement innovative programs and policies' to maximize the reuse of materials, boost recycling, and reduce waste. Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito said the program helps municipalities and solid waste districts expand recycling and composting, while targeting new materials to remove from the waste stream."

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Most of the grants, including Andover's, were through the Recycling Dividends Program, which "recognizes municipalities that have implemented policies and programs proven to maximize the reuse and recycling of materials, as well as waste reduction."

Recycling Dividends Program payments must be reinvested in recycling programs.

Forty-two other municipalities were awarded "Small-Scale Initiatives Grants" totaling $46,250.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.