DOVER – The latest round of DNREC’s Universal Recycling Grants and Low-Interest Loan Program has awarded nearly $268,000 to 12 different Delaware entities, municipalities, school districts and multi-family housing complexes. DNREC’s grant and loan program – an outgrowth of Delaware’s Universal Recycling Law championed by Delaware Governor Jack Markell – has advanced recycling collection programs, promoted recycling education efforts and spurred a range of innovative recycling initiatives with grant funding.
The grant progam’s emphasis has focused recently on helping Delaware schools and businesses achieve recycling requirements and eventually exceed diversion goals that can rank Delaware even higher nationally as a leader in single-stream recycling.
“Recycling not only reduces schools’ and businesses’ environmental footprint but can save them money,” said DNREC Secretary David Small. “To achieve the statewide goals of the Universal Recycling Law, we continue working with businesses on improving the recycling rate across the commercial sector. DNREC’s recycling grants program is a great opportunity to assist the educational and business communities with recycling start-up costs. And as Gov. Markell has stressed, universal recycling has helped drive both environmental and economic benefits for our state and its citizens.”
Awarding of grants in the most recent cycle of the Universal Recycling Grants and Low-Interest Loan Program and the amounts awarded by DNREC for each grant winner, along with project summaries, can be found below:
| Applicant | Funding | Project Summary |
| Appoquinimink School District | $6,993.59 | Recyclable material handling equipment district-wide |
| Cape Henlopen School District | $7,630.25 | High school recycling program (interior and exterior) and cafeteria waste reduction (reusable trays) – Containers/equipment, plastic trays |
| Capital School District | $15,276.00 | District-wide recycling program – recycling dumpsters at all locations |
| BrightFields Inc. | $1,119.66 | Partial funding of onsite composting program – Composters, cart, interior organics collection bins, supplies |
| East Pointe Apartments | $4,928.22 | Multi-family residential program serving 216 unit complex – Interior recycling bins, outreach/education |
| Georgetown Manor Apartments | $5,285.97 | Multi-family residential program serving 419 unit complex – Interior recycling bins, exterior recycling dumpsters, outreach/education |
| Laurel School District | $6,635.89 | District-wide recycling program – Interior containers, material handling equipment |
| Partnership for the Delaware Estuary | $12,029.50 | Partial funding of oyster shell recovery program (from restaurants & wholesalers in NCC) – Containers/equipment, outreach/education |
| Red Clay School District | $56,215.65 | District wide recycling program – Interior containers, material handling equipment |
| Town of Fenwick Island | $2,689.00 | Beach recycling program expansion – Recycling carts, outreach/education |
| University of Delaware | $5,985.00 | Implementation of program at Coast Day /Expansion of Sharp Campus recycling program – Containers, outreach/education |
| City of Wilmington | $143,150.00 | Outreach/education component of citywide implementation of Pay-As-You-Throw waste reduction program |
The Universal Recycling Grant and Low Interest Loan Program was created by the Universal Recycling Law. The law provides a framework to ensure recycling options are available for all in Delaware. The most recent requirement was effective Jan. 1, 2014, and requires commercial businesses actively participate in a comprehensive recycling program. The commercial sector includes any for-profit or not-for-profit retail or wholesale stores, offices, food service establishments, warehouses, and other manufacturing, industrial or processing activities, and institutions such as social, charitable, educational, health care, and professional and government services.
To help Delaware’s schools, businesses and institutions start or expand their recycling programs, DNREC will continue to offer the Universal Recycling Grant and Low Interest Loan Program. “We hope to announce the next cycle in January,” said Bill Miller, environmental program manager and DNREC recycling team leader, “and we will probably accept applications for a two-month window.” Funding is typically awarded for equipment and outreach/education, but creativity is welcome.
Schools, business owners, and organization managers are encouraged to explore the growing recycling opportunities in Delaware. To learn more about legislative requirements, grant funding, commercial recycling toolkits, free technical assistance, and more please visit: www.recycling.delaware.gov or call 302-739-9403.
Media Contact: Michael Globetti, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902
Vol. 46, No. 2