The Department of Environmental Protection announced it is now accepting applications for 2007 Recycling Markets Infrastructure Development Grants.

The deadline for applications is November 1.

This grant provides reimbursement to established and start-up businesses and nonprofit organizations in this Commonwealth for the equipment costs associated with increasing the use of recycled content in products.

Eligible applicants must be located and operating in this Commonwealth or be operating in this Commonwealth as a result of a grant award under this program. For this grant round, the Department will not accept applications from previous grant recipients. This requirement will be reevaluated in subsequent grant rounds.

$1 million dollars is available for this initiative. The Department will award grants of up to $500,000 to any one project. Additional consideration will be given to applications that are developed in consultation with the Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center.

The success of recycling programs is directly related to demand for recyclable goods. Strong, profitable, recycling-based businesses are good for the environment and the economy in this Commonwealth.

This grant aims to build strong markets for recycled materials in this Commonwealth by assisting businesses and nonprofits organizations with increasing their use of recyclable materials in the production of finished products.

Applications for the 2007 program may be obtained by contacting Charles Scheidler, Bureau of Waste Management at 717-787-7382 or send email to: cscheidler@state.pa.us .

DEP also said applications will be available on the Markets Development webpage.

8/31/2007