Morton announces solid waste grants to 7th District counties

January 7, 2008

Olympia…Sen. Bob Morton, R-Kettle Falls, recently received word from the Department of Ecology that Coordinated Prevention Grants (CPG) have been awarded to Okanogan, Ferry, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Spokane and Stevens counties.

The grants, totaling $279.250, will be used for various projects related to waste management. The grant funding comes from a special appropriation by the Legislature to fund programs that support the state’s solid waste management plan.

The grant recipients are:

• Okanogan County Public Health
  $40,000 to investigate and enforce cleanup of illegal dumps and prevent future littering and dumping

• Ferry County Solid Waste Management
  $45,000 to hire a consultant to help review and update the county’s solid waste management plan.

• Lincoln County Public Works
  $45,000 to complete an update of the county’s solid and hazardous waste management plan.

• Pend Oreille County Public Works
  $60,000 to complete the upgrade to the county’s recycling facility and buy equipment.

• Spokane Regional Health District
  $33,000 for enforcement of solid waste violations and investigations of citizen solid waste complaints.

• Stevens County Department of Public Works
  $56,250 to help local governments participate in a statewide effort to educate the public about electronic recycling take-back opportunities.

CPGs are awarded in two cycles each biennium. The regular cycle (grants in effect Jan. 1, 2008 through Dec. 31, 2009) is not a competitive funding cycle. However, applications must meet a minimum threshold score.

Seventh District grants in the first cycle included:

• Okanogan County Department of Public Works - $173,038 to collect and properly dispose of household and small business hazardous wastes and to promote solid waste recycling through education and collection services.

• Okanogan County Public Health
  $106,849 to investigate, track and regulate cleanup of illegal dumps and support regulatory activities at biosolids and septage management facilities.

• Northeast Tri-County Health District (serving Ferry, Pend Oreille and Stevens counties) $40,000 for solid waste handling.

• Ferry County Waste Management
  $113,763 for education and technical assistance for updates of solid and hazardous waste plans.

• Lincoln County Public Works
  $118,718 to conduct activities to divert hazardous waste, recyclables and yard waste from the waste stream.

• Lincoln County Health Department
  $20,876 for solid waste handling facilities.

• Pend Oreille County
  $122,572 for recycling activities.

• Stevens County Public Works
  $177,259 to collect household hazardous waste and to promote public awareness of waste reduction and recycling.

The new grants, referred to as the off-set cycle (grants in effect Jan. 1, 2009 through Dec. 31, 2010), is a competitive funding cycle. Applicants compete for funds from the current regular cycle, unspent funds from the previous cycle, and special proviso funds, such as the 2007-09 budget appropriation for Beyond Waste projects.  

“These grants mean a lot to rural counties where ratepayers would otherwise shoulder the burden alone,” Morton said.

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Additional contact: Penny Drost (360) 786-7522 or drost.penny@leg.wa.gov