December 4, 2014 | mThe Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) has awarded three recycling grants totaling $200,000 to entities involved in keeping electronic wastes out of the state’s landfills.
Goodwill Industries of Arkansas received a $100,000 grant to assist in the development of an operations center in Little Rock to process and recycle electronic wastes received from numerous cities, counties, and Regional Solid Waste Management Districts in the state. Goodwill has processed two million pounds of e-waste since it started its recycling program in 2009. The nonprofit organization has set a goal of processing one million pounds between July 1, 2014, and June 30, 2015.
The City of Texarkana was awarded a $50,000 grant to expand its current e-waste collection center for residents of Texarkana and surrounding areas. The expansion would include areas for loading and unloading materials, as well as a covered storage area for collected e-waste.
Another $50,000 grant was given to Esco Processing and Recycling of Rogers for collecting and processing cathode ray tubes (CRTs) for recycling and diverting them from landfills. CRTs, such as television sets or computer monitors, can contain from four to seven pounds of lead each.
ADEQ makes e-waste grant awards each year. In 2013, grants totaling $250,000 were made to eligible entities, which include private industries, schools, colleges and universities, cities and counties, Regional Solid Waste Management Districts, non-profit organizations, state or local government agencies, and the ADEQ. The grant program is funded through the sales of surplus used computers and other equipment from state agencies.
E-waste grants guidelines are available on the ADEQ website at www.adeq.state.ar.us, or by contacting Robert Hunter at the agency at 501-682-0609; hunter@adeq.state.ar.us.
