Recycling Grants Available

Recycling grant funds are available from the Wake County Solid Waste Management Division for business recycling programs that promise significant environmental benefits and could be easily adopted by other companies. The grant application deadline is November 26.

More than $40,000 is available to implement recycling or composting programs in commercial, industrial and institutional sectors.

"Since 2001, more than 14,500 tons of commercial waste has been recycled using the grant funding," said Kelley Dennings, Wake County's Commercial Waste Reduction Specialist. "That total only includes material recycled during the first year the program is implemented; hopefully much more has been recycled in subsequent years."

Last year's winners include:

• The Angus Barn, Raleigh – Food-waste composting project
• Conn Global Communications Elementary School, Raleigh – Vermicomposting project
• Gannett Fleming, Inc., Raleigh – Food-waste composting project
• Habitat for Humanity of Wake County Reuse Center, Raleigh – Wood reuse project
• N.C. State University – Carter-Finley Stadium recycling project
• PCM Construction, Apex – Wood reuse project
• Stalvey Enterprises, Holly Springs – Motor oil recycling project
• Town of Cary – Composting workshop
• Urban Ministries, Raleigh – Food-waste composting project

According to Bob Lyford, controller at The Angus Barn, the company has diverted 44 tons of food waste from the landfill since April 2003, and the more frequent waste pickups have created a much cleaner and better-maintained disposal area at the restaurant.

"Using Wake County's grant funding alleviated the risks associated with starting our recycling program," said Ben Rogers, Wake County Habitat for Humanity Reuse Center. "The funding legitimized the project."