Ohio EPA is awarding more than $2.1 million this year in grants to 23 local governments, businesses, and nonprofit organizations throughout northwest Ohio to implement recycling, litter prevention, market development, and scrap tire recycling programs. Statewide, the Agency is issuing more than $5 million in grant funding to 89 recipients, with more than $3.2 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 last year to prioritize and promote the conversation around litter in Ohio.
Community and Litter Grants are available to local governments, parks or health departments, state colleges and universities, solid waste authorities, and nonprofit organizations or Keep America Beautiful communities to support and expand community recycling and litter prevention efforts. Market Development Grants assist businesses that purchase equipment and infrastructure for successful markets of recyclable materials and related products.