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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State Rep.
Ron Buxton
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Buxton bill continuing community recycling programs now law
HARRISBURG, May 14 – Legislation (Act 24 of 2010) introduced by state Rep. Ron Buxton, D-Dauphin, allowing recycling and waste disposal programs to continue was signed into law this week by Gov. Rendell.
"This is clearly about helping the environment, but also supporting local communities' efforts and job retention," Buxton said.
Buxton said his bill will extend until 2020 a $2 per ton fee charged on waste disposed within the Commonwealth. Without the extension, the state Department of Environmental Protection's recycling grant programs would have closed during the 2010-11 fiscal year.
Buxton said the programs generate $40 million a year that goes back to municipalities in grants to help offset the cost of operating their recycling programs.
"That translates into sustaining nearly 80,000 jobs and supporting 3,200 businesses statewide," Buxton said. "This is secure, guaranteed funding for the next decade. That speaks volumes."
Buxton's law also allocates $1.25 million a year for four years to the cleanup of waste tire piles across the state. The funding will be allocated as grants from DEP.
"We'll start with the highest priority piles and work our way down," Buxton said. "All in all, we're cleaning up the past to preserve the future of the state."
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