FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 13, 2024) - Today (Monday), Gov. Andy Beshear announced $9 million in grants to Kentucky municipalities, fiscal courts and universities for 73 projects across the commonwealth to expand recycling, reduce the amount of solid waste going into landfills and improve the handling of household hazardous waste.
Two counties in the WAVE listening area were awarded grants:
- Adair County Fiscal Court - $10,000 Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) grant.
- Taylor County Fiscal Court - $53,250 Recycling grant.
“Kentucky is fortunate that so many municipalities are stepping up to reuse and recycle to reduce the amount of solid waste piling up in our landfills,” Gov. Beshear said. “This shows care for the environment and for each other.”
A complete list of grant recipients can be viewed?here.
This program awarded three types of grants:
- There are 29 recycling grants, worth $4.6 million, providing funds for counties to purchase recycling equipment with the goal of promoting sustainable regional recycling infrastructure.
- There are 15 composting grants, worth $15.4 million, to purchase equipment to improve composting and to promote creative solutions for managing food waste, lawn waste and other organic material.?
- There are 29 household hazardous waste grants, worth $1 million, for counties to conduct annual drop-off events for citizens to dispose of household chemicals, old electronics and other potentially hazardous wastes.
These grants require a 25 percent local match in the form of cash or “in kind” labor, educational activities or advertising to promote the program from those receiving the awards.
Energy and Environment Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Goodman said the household hazardous waste grants raise awareness about the importance of recycling home electronic equipment.
“We all need to consider the life cycle of products and how we carefully dispose of them,” Secretary Goodman said.
Funding for the grants comes from the Kentucky Pride Fund, which is generated by a $1.75 fee for each ton of municipal solid waste disposed of in Kentucky landfills.
In order to apply for the next round of recycling, composting and household hazardous waste grants, applications should be postmarked or?hand-delivered to?the Division of Waste Management, Recycling and Local Assistance Branch, or emailed to?williamt.collins@ky.gov?by 4 p.m. Monday, April 1, 2025. ?
The original application and any supporting documentation must be submitted in order for an application to be complete. Each grant requires a 25 percent local match. Application materials can be found here.
For more information about the division’s recycling efforts, please visit the Kentucky Division of Waste Management?website.