Photo by William Zhang
House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading), Representative Richard M. Haggerty (D-Woburn) and Senator Jason M. Lewis (D-Winchester) joined with the Baker-Polito Administration this week to announce that Reading has been awarded a $1,250 recycling grant by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP).
Reading was one of 43 communities to share in $44,000 worth of Small-Scale Initiatives Grants awarded under MassDEP’s Sustainable Materials Recovery Program, which assists municipalities and regional solid waste districts with their recycling, composting, and waste reduction programs.
The Small-Scale Initiatives Grants are population-based and range from $500-$2,000. Communities can use this money to purchase recycling materials and outreach tools to help sustain their existing recycling program or to undertake new, low-cost initiatives.
“The Sustainable Materials Recovery Program is an important financial resource for communities looking to expand participation in local recycling programs,” said Representative Jones. “Reading’s grant will help deliver many positive environmental benefits for the town as it continues its efforts to reduce the solid waste stream.”
“I am happy to join with the Governor and my colleagues from the Reading Delegation to announce this important funding for the Town,” said Representative Haggerty. “This grant awarded by the Sustainable Materials Program will aid Reading as it moves forward with its local recycling initiatives, giving it the crucial resources it requires to expand and incorporate new, cost-effective measures.”
“This grant is a recognition of the Town of Reading’s longtime commitment to recycling and sustainability and the Town’s strong collaboration with partners at the state level,” said Senator Lewis. “I look forward to working with the Reading legislative delegation, officials from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the Reading community to meet community objectives and support important local initiatives like recycling.”
Created under the 2008 Green Communities Act, the Sustainable Materials Recovery Program has provided more than $35 million in grants to local and regional recycling programs since 2010. In addition to the Small-Scale Initiatives Grants, the program also offers Recycling Dividends Grants, which this year provided 219 communities with $2.93 million worth of grants ranging from $2,100 to $97,500.
