BOSTON (Sept. 25, 2023) - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced more than $3.9 million from President Biden's Investing in America agenda to expand recycling infrastructure and waste management systems across Rhode Island.
EPA has selected the city of Providence, Rhode Island to receive a grant totaling more than $3,348,000 under the newly created Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling funding opportunity. In addition, the agency is making available approximately $551,877 to improve solid waste management planning, data collection and implementation of plans. Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this investment totaling is a part of EPA's largest recycling investment in 30 years.
The grants support the implementation of EPA's National Recycling Strategy to build an economy devoted to keeping materials, products, and services in circulation for as long as possible –what's known as a "circular economy."
"President Biden's Investing in America Agenda tackles our most pressing environmental challenges including climate change and lead in drinking water, and today we add another historic investment to better manage waste in communities across America," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. "By investing in better recycling, EPA is deploying resources to provide recycling services across the country, including in disadvantaged communities, while preventing waste that contributes to the climate crisis, supporting local economies and creating good-paying jobs."
"Providence's Climate Justice Plan and focus on the needs of communities most impacted by the negative effects of the climate crisis and past policy decisions is truly exceptional," said EPA New England Regional Administrator, David W. Cash. "EPA is proud to support their efforts to create a sustainable and equitable zero-waste economy, while supporting local businesses and creating meaningful work for local frontline community members."
"This federal funding should improve Rhode Island's recycling infrastructure, reduce waste, and help stop pollutants from entering our waterways. I commend Senator Whitehouse for his national leadership on this issue and commitment to upgrade Rhode Island's and the nation's recycling systems. It's a smart investment in the environment and the economy," said U.S. Senator Jack Reed.
"Improving Rhode Island's statewide recycling and waste management systems will strengthen public health and help keep Narragansett Bay clean," said U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, who co-founded the bipartisan Senate Oceans Caucus to find common ground in responding to issues facing the oceans and coasts and passed the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act into law in 2020, the most comprehensive legislation ever passed by Congress to address the plastic debris crisis threatening coastal ecosystems and communities, and harming marine life. "I am pleased to have led the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act with Senators Sullivan and Menendez, which is helping guide the nation's strategy on tackling the plastic debris that washes up on our shores."
"We must always work to ensure the health of Rhode Islanders and the environment we live in," said U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner. "By scaling up modern waste management systems and recycling programs, this federal funding will keep our air and water clean, create jobs, and help us on the path to a more sustainable economy."
"Effective planning on a statewide level is critical to ensure that our waste management systems are operating efficiently and effectively," said Department of Environmental Management Director Terry Gray. "We appreciate EPA's grant support to the State of Rhode Island and look forward to working with the Rhode Island Recovery Corporation, the Division of Statewide Planning, and our municipal partners to update our plans. Our priority is always eliminating waste before it is created, and a great example of this is the effort undertaken by our partners in the agriculture and food communities to divert unused food to people in need. Another example is recent efforts at DEM to make the public events we host at state parks more sustainable by helping sponsors eliminate waste. Our goal is to continue to improve recycling systems and strengthen connections with markets that can use the materials collected, creating a circular economy in Rhode Island. All of this depends on good information, and this grant will allow us to develop a new data management system to better track these materials. There is much more to come on supporting sustainable materials management statewide. Also, I want to congratulate the City of Providence on obtaining their grant through this competitive national process and especially want to thank Senator Whitehouse whose Save Our Seas 2.0 Act, funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, provided this valuable federal funding for these efforts."
"This is an exciting step towards making Providence a more sustainable, climate resilient city," said Mayor Brett P. Smiley. "The funding from this grant will have a lasting impact on our neighborhoods, reducing food waste, expanding recycling efforts, and increasing the accessibility of composting for residents and businesses. Through this important work we are prioritizing the health, safety, and quality of life of our communities and making Providence a national leader in addressing the climate crisis."
President Biden's Investing in America Agenda is growing the American economy from the bottom up and middle-out – from rebuilding our nation's infrastructure, to driving over $470 billion in private sector manufacturing and clean energy investments in the United States, to creating a manufacturing and innovation boom powered by good paying jobs that don't require a four-year degree, to building a clean-energy economy that will combat climate change and make our communities more resilient.
EPA's Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grant Program is also advancing President's Justice40 Initiative, which aims to ensure that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved, and overburdened by pollution. Approximately $56 million out of the $73 million – or 76% - of the total funding for communities will go toward projects that benefit disadvantaged communities.
Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grants for Communities
The recycling grants for communities will support improvements to waste management systems across the country. Providence, Rhode Island's project will provide:
- Enhanced infrastructure for commercial and institutional food waste diversion
- Expanded infrastructure for neighborhood-based composting of residential food waste
- Technical assistance for business/institutional settings to support food waste diversion
- A pilot program for business recycling including municipal infrastructure & technical assistance
Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grants for States and Territories
The recycling grants for states and territories will provide funding to all 56 states, territories, and the District of Columbia via grants ranging from $360,000 to $750,000; with the highest grant amounts supporting those states and territories that need it the most.
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management will update the state's Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan. As part of the update, the plan will examine solid waste in a comprehensive and holistic way. In addition to addressing solid waste disposal and recycling at the state's Resource Recovery Facility, the plan will include food waste diversion, e-waste management, and emerging waste streams such as solar panels and lithium-ion batteries. Data management will be improved, and the higher-quality data will be used in the update to the plan. The plan will also incorporate benchmarks and goals that reflect the state's emphasis on environmental justice.
These grants represent important steps toward achieving the EPA's National Recycling Goal and Food Loss and Waste Reduction Goal. Funded activities include improving post-consumer materials management programs through developing or updating solid waste management plans and strengthening data collection efforts.
Additional Background
Today's announcement for states, territories, and communities is the first round of funding from this new grant program. In the coming months, EPA will announce the selected recipients of the recycling grants for Tribes and intertribal consortia, as well as the recipients of EPA's new Recycling Education and Outreach grant program.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $275 million total from fiscal year 2022 to fiscal year 2026 for grants authorized under the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act - the largest investment in recycling in 30 years. The recycling grants are supplemented with additional funding provided through EPA's annual appropriations. EPA has selected these entities to receive funding for recycling infrastructure projects and anticipates making all the awards announced today once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied.
For details about the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grant Program selectees and other Bipartisan Infrastructure Law-related funding opportunities, visit the EPA recycling grants webpage.
from EPA News Releases https://ift.tt/HbI4wq5