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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Robert E. Belfanti, Jr. |
  
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Northumberland County municipalities awarded recycling grants
HARRISBURG, Oct. 6 – State Rep. Robert E. Belfanti Jr. announced today that two municipalities in Northumberland County have been awarded state recycling performance grants by the state Department of Environmental Protection.
Belfanti said Coal Township will receive an $8,110 grant; the city of Shamokin will receive a $4,768 grant. The grant amounts are based on the population of the two municipalities, as well as the tons of material recycled in each municipality in 2006. In 2006, businesses, households, schools and other organizations in Shamokin recycled more than 483 tons of material; more than 864 tons of material was recycled in Coal Township.
"These grants are awarded by the state on top of other funding that is available to maintain municipal recycling programs," Belfanti said. "The recycling performance grants act as incentive for municipalities to improve their recycling even more. In addition to being good for the environment, recycling has become an important part of the economy in many communities."
Belfanti said Pennsylvania’s recycling industry includes more than 3,240 recycling and reuse businesses and organizations that generate more than $18.4 billion in gross annual sales and provide jobs for more than 81,300 people. Recycling and reuse businesses in the state contribute more than $305 million in state revenues.
Pennsylvania recycling programs supply industry with more than 4.7 million tons of scrap commodities such as metals, paper, glass, plastics, wood, organics and other materials each year.
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