In February, Lane County’s Waste Management Division will post application materials for the second year of its Waste Diversion Opportunity Grant project. The grants are intended to help jump-start permanent projects that recycle, compost or prevent waste materials that would otherwise go to the Short Mountain Landfill.
Grant application documents will be advertised and posted to the Public Works purchasing website on Monday, February 13. Proposals are due April 20, 2012.
New this year, all proposers will be required to attend an informational meeting in March. This will ensure that all applicants have consistent and accurate information and the proposals have the highest chance of success.
“While Lane County’s impressive 57 percent recovery rate is second highest in the state,” said Sarah Grimm, Waste Reduction specialist for the County, “there are still large amounts of recyclable commodities entering Short Mountain Landfill.”
The 2009/2010 Waste Composition study of Lane County’s waste stream shows, for example, that:
- 16,000 tons of recyclable paper is still being trashed, half of which has dependable positive market value.
- 13,000 tons of recyclable wood waste is still available for recycling; 3,000 of it is reusable lumber.
- 3,000 tons of recyclable plastic are available for capture and use in existing local and regional recycling markets.
Other materials currently being landfilled could potentially be recycled by creating new products from old, or by connecting them to other innovations/recycling options in the state. Some examples of this might be VHS tapes, carpeting, window glass, drywall or medical plastics.
“Recycling is a fascinating and growing industry,” says Grimm, “I have recently heard from several companies in Portland—one that recycles carpeting, another VHS tapes and another manufactures laptop covers out of discarded neoprene.”
A total of $100,000 is available for grant distribution. To emphasize the permanence and scale of projects targeted, proposals requesting less than $25,000 will not be considered. Scoring and selection criteria will be based on – but not limited to – thorough preparedness and ability to carry out the project, quantity of waste diverted or prevented, permanence, cost effectiveness and benefits to other community concerns.
There will be added scoring points available for waste preventing activities in recognition of the fact that preventing waste from being generated in the first place achieves far greater environmental health benefits than simple diversion to recycling, composting or energy.
Last year, three projects were funded.
1) Educational supplies for the City of Eugene’s new “Love Food, Not Waste” commercial composting program.
2) Reusable dishware for Spencer Butte Middle School Cafeteria and technology training to increase paperless teaching.
3) St. Vincent de Paul’s Increased fiber and foam recycling and a carpet recycling pilot.
To learn more about Lane County’s extensive waste prevention and reduction efforts, visit www.lanecounty.org/recycle, the DEX phone book’s BROWN pages, up front behind the green map section or call 541-682-4339.
Media Contact: Lane County Waste Reduction Specialist Sarah Grimm, 541-682-4339
Amber Fossen
Public Information Officer
Lane County Government
125 E. Eighth Ave.
Eugene, Oregon 97401
541.682.3718
541.359.9143 (cell)
www.lanecounty.org
www.facebook.com/LaneCountyGovernment