State Waste Board Approves $4.5 Million to Fund Local Grants for Household Hazardous Wastes: Cities, counties, and regional agencies encouraged to apply

SACRAMENTO—The California Integrated Waste Management Board voted this week to make $4.5 million in grant funding available for local programs to help cities, counties, and regional agencies better handle common materials that cannot be dumped in landfills, such as household batteries, mercury thermostats and thermometers, fluorescent light bulbs, and some obsolete personal electronics.

"While they are safe for everyday use, when they end up in the trash, items that contain mercury, cadmium, and other materials have the potential to contaminate the environment and threaten public health," said Board Chair Margo Reid Brown. "Safe handling of these materials is an important responsibility and these grants will help local governments to improve regional programs that do just that."

Cities, counties, and regional agencies are encouraged to apply for the Board's 15th Cycle of Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) grants. The grants are designed to assist local government efforts to reduce the amount of waste going to California landfills by building needed infrastructure and providing outreach.

This year, the grant funding is especially designated for programs that meet California's requirements to keep "universal waste" items out of landfills so they can be properly recycled or disposed of. For a complete list of items prohibited from being tossed in the trash, please visit www.zerowaste.ca.gov.

The grant application period is anticipated to be open from late March through May 15, 2006. Once the applications are scored, awards will be reviewed and approved and funds will be available after the 2006-07 State budget is signed. More information about the Board's HHW grant program is available online.

Two categories of HHW grants are available.

Regional Coordination Grants ($500,000 total)—Counties are encouraged to work together in regional planning efforts to coordinate universal waste collection and disposal. These one-year grants will range from $7,000 to $15,000, depending on local population. The amount available per jurisdiction will be posted online with the application information.

Competitive Infrastructure Grants ($4 million total)—These three-year grants will be awarded for infrastructure activities, including design/planning and construction of new facilities and expansion of existing facilities. The funds are also available for innovative universal waste collection opportunities that promote the development of public-private partnerships. Maximum awards will be $300,000 for multi-jurisdictional applicants and up to $200,000 for single-jurisdiction applicants.

The California Integrated Waste Management Board is the State's leading authority on recycling and waste reduction. It promotes a zero waste California in partnership with local government, industry, and the public. This means reducing waste whenever possible, promoting the management of all materials to their highest and best use, and protecting public health and safety and the environment.

# # #