BOSTON – Senator Michael O. Moore (D-Millbury) announced that the Towns of Auburn, Grafton, Shrewsbury, Upton and the City of Worcester have been awarded grants through the Recycling Dividends Program coordinated by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.
Funds through the Program are available to municipalities in the Commonwealth that implement specific programs and policies proven to maximize reuse, recycling and waste reduction. The Second Worcester District communities are slated to receive grants in the following amounts:
- Auburn - $8,800
- Grafton - $4,800
- Shrewsbury - $14,400
- Upton - $4,200
- Worcester - $65,000
“This grant funding is critical to supporting new opportunities for sustainability in these communities,” said Senator Moore. “As a former Environmental Police Officer, I recognize the importance of actively promoting environmental protection. I commend these municipalities on their efforts to secure these grants and I am confident that the funding will assist with their ongoing efforts to reduce solid waste.”
Before 1990, Massachusetts residents recycled about 10 percent of their discarded materials. In 1990, Massachusetts adopted its first Solid Waste Master Plan, a blueprint for managing solid waste that is generated, reused, recycled, recovered and disposed in the Commonwealth. Since then, government and citizen efforts have led to a 47 percent recycling rate overall, which is among the best in the nation. However, waste generation continues to increase while the growth in recycling has leveled off.
Grant funds awarded through the Recycling Dividends Program may be applied to recycling and composting equipment; mattress recycling; Pay-As-You-Throw programs; waste reduction enforcement; school recycling; and organics capacity development projects. Approximately 238 communities received grants totaling $2.3 million in 2017. To learn more about the Program, please click below.