Ohio EPA is awarding more than $1.1 million this year in grants to 24 local governments, businesses and nonprofit organizations throughout southwest Ohio, and more than $480,000 this year in grants to 15 local governments, businesses and nonprofit organizations throughout southeast Ohio, to implement recycling, litter prevention, market development and scrap tire recycling programs.
Statewide, the Agency is issuing more than $6 million in grant funding to 103 recipients, with more than $3.1 million specifically for community and litter prevention grants. Local governments and other entities use these grants for litter collection, education programming and the disposal of scrap tires through amnesty collection events. All local cleanup efforts involve the work of volunteers and take place on public property.
Some of these grants tie into a statewide litter campaign, A Little Litter is a Big Problem, announced by Governor Mike DeWine on April 22 to prioritize and promote the conversation around litter in Ohio. Local projects approved for funding (rounded down to the nearest dollar) include:
• Highland County Commissioners, $5,000 for litter cleanup supply kits;
• Adams-Clermont Solid Waste District, $29,680 for litter collection and tire amnesty;
• Clinton County Solid Waste Materials District, $14,496 for tire amnesty; and
• Ross County Litter Control & Recycling $7,825 for public service announcements for environmental stewardship and solid waste.