06/11/2008: "Washington Grants fund waste management"

San Juan County has receive two two-year grants from the Department of Ecology (Ecology).

Ecology awards the grants every two years to local governments. The funds come from a tax paid by wholesale distributors of petroleum and other hazardous materials, under the voter-approved Toxic Cleanup Act of 1989. San Juan County:

San Juan County Health and Community Services will use a $78,167 grant to resolve questions and concerns from the general public, elected officials, and other organizations regarding proper solid waste handling and illegal dumping.

The County will offer technical assistance to property owners who are victims of illegal dumping. The County expects to respond to 100 inquiries and 40 illegal dumping complaints. The County will also review and inspect 5 permitted solid waste facilities and 2 closed landfills.

San Juan County Public Works will use a $128,811 grant for the collection and disposal of household hazardous waste (HHW) in San Juan County. Annual collection events for HHW take place on San Juan, Orcas, and Lopez islands, which have ferry service to facilitate transportation. Residents of other islands may bring their HHW items to these collection events. The County expects to collect more than 90 tons

Local governments are getting 17-point-five million dollars in help from the Department of Ecology to help keep communities cleaner and safer.

The grants cover 176 projects to better manage solid and household hazardous wastes, prevent illegal dumping and promote waste-reduction, recycling, and composting. Ecology issues the funds - called Coordinated Prevention Grants - every two years from a tax paid by wholesale distributors of petroleum and other hazardous materials.

Ecology has awarded 51 Coordinated Prevention Grants totaling $7.2 million to support responsible waste management in the agency's northwest region: Island, King, Kitsap, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish and Whatcom counties. Statewide, 119 city and county recipients will receive approximately $17.5M for 176 projects that began Jan 1, 2008 and expire Dec 31, 2009.

"Ultimately, these grants keep hazardous wastes out of our local landfills through a three-pronged approach: public education, reducing waste, and accelerating recycling efforts," said Gov. Chris Gregoire. It makes good sense, for our economy and our environment, to invest in reducing and preventing waste now, rather than paying for costly cleanups later."