Governor Janet Napolitano & Arizona Department of Environmental Quality Director Steve Owens presented officials of Apache County with a check for $60,000 to increase recycling efforts in the county. The funds come from ADEQ’s recycling grant program, which provides financial support for recycling throughout Arizona.
“Recycling is vital to Arizona,” Governor Napolitano said. “It’s good for the environment & for the economy. We are committed to making recycling convenient & practical throughout Arizona.”
“Recycling is one of our most effective tools to protect our environment, & it is especially important to provide opportunities for recycling in rural Arizona,” Director Owens added. “We are pleased to support Apache County’s efforts to increase recycling in Arizona.”
The grant will fund a study to identify the recycling needs of Apache County citizens as well as the viability of establishing a materials recovery facility in the county. Because the county’s regional landfill has experienced a 70% increase in municipal, household, construction & commercial waste since 2002, the county is considering building a materials recovery facility, where recyclables would be sorted, processed & shipped for sale.
“This proposed study will help Apache County evaluate recycling options that will reduce the volume of materials going to the landfill while meeting the disposal needs of county residents,” Director Owens said.
The grant is being awarded under ADEQ’s Recycling Research & Development Proposals program, which funds projects that involve research, including feasibility studies. The objective of these projects is to increase recycling.
Governor Napolitano & Director Owens presented the check at a meeting with Apache County officials in Springerville. At the meeting Governor Napolitano also received a briefing on the county’s plans to increase recycling.