The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation today announced $332,953 in grants for Education and Outreach and Organics Management for projects to help reduce landfill waste and increase recycling education in Tennessee. The grant program encourages and supports local communities to meet solid waste and recycling goals. Local governments can divert more waste from landfills through infrastructure upgrades and provide convenient opportunities for residents to get engaged in the process.
The grants are administered by TDEC鈥檚 Division of Solid Waste Management. 鈥淲e are pleased to see the interest and enthusiasm for these solid waste grants,鈥� said Greg Young, deputy commissioner for TDEC鈥檚 Bureau of Environment. 鈥淭hese communities are committed to reducing waste in Tennessee, and we thank them for going through the application process.鈥�
The Education and Outreach grant will help local governments produce material needed to consistently promote waste reduction and recycling best practices for established solid waste programs. The primary purpose is to inform residents what they can recycle, where they can recycle, and when they can recycle.
Organics Management grants are for counties, cities, solid waste authorities, and other tax-exempt nonprofit recycling entities designated as 501c(3) organizations. The grants prioritize public/private partnerships, new or expanded organics management services, and reductions in food waste,
Grants Announced:
| Awardee | County | Amount | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sevier Solid Waste Inc. | 聽Sevier 聽County | $100,000 | 聽Organics Management: Wheel loader |
| University of TN Knoxville | 听碍苍辞虫惫颈濒濒别 | $100,000 | 聽Organics Management: Expansion of internal composting program |
| Rosebank Elementary School | 听顿补惫颈诲蝉辞苍 | $10,050 | 聽Organics Management: School composting program |
| TN Environmental Council | 听顿补惫颈诲蝉辞苍 | $7,003 | 聽Education & Outreach: Education materials |
| Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County | 听顿补惫颈诲蝉辞苍 | $13,000 | 聽Education & Outreach: Education materials |
| Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davison County | 听顿补惫颈诲蝉辞苍 | $100,000 | 聽Organics Management: Food scrap program |
| City of Germantown | 听厂丑别濒产测 | $2,900 | 聽Education and Outreach: Recycling and solid waste guide and 聽education |