Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) officials caution potential grantee's that even with reauthorization, recycling funds will still be in high demand. Over the last four years, requests for grants have been twice as much as available dollars. This trend is likely to continue.
Although we don't have to worry about reauthorization again for another few years, we want to make sure recycling and a sound waste management stay on the radars of legislators.
PROP Compiles Grant Denial Summary
In order to show legislators and the RFAC that the fund is in considerable distress, PROP recently compiled a summary of grant denials over $20,000 from 2000 to 20004. The chart attempts to compile an accurate summary of denials so that repeat applications for the same projects not counted twice. Even after subtracting those repeat applications, the grant denials are well over $25 million. More than 40 applicants have received no funding at all over the last four years. What's worse, the persistent pattern of denials has discouraged nearly 80 counties and municipalities from applying after they were initially denied funding.
What About the Legislature?
PROP and it's members have tried valiantly to convey the urgency of the situation to the legislature. PROP's discussions with legislators and staff indicate that recycling remains a priority to some legislators but many others are lukewarm on the topic, especially in very rural districts and in western regions of the state. Despite recent reauthorization, we have to continue to let our local legislators know that recycling must remain a funding priority. We must emphasize that a significant sum needs to be returned to the Recycling Fund. Without this, the staggering shortfall in section 902 Grant funding will continue and local programs will suffer a steady decline.
A Model Letter or E-mail for Your Legislator
A model letter or e-mail is available for you to send to your representative
and senator thanking him or her for current and on-going support of
Act 140. Insert your legislator's name, your name, affiliation
and other pertinent individualized background, and dash it off as
soon as you are able. If you send it by regular mail, place the letter
on your letterhead. Remember that you can get your legislative contact
information on our CapWiz
section of the PROP website.
