Beech Tree News Network

FRANKFORT – Energy and Environment Secretary Charles Snavely announced Monday that about $1.06 million in grant funding has been awarded for the cleanup of 112 illegal dumps in 25 counties across the state. 

“Illegal dumping affects safety, property values and quality of life across the commonwealth,” Snavely said in a statement. “This grant program is a great way to assist counties in improving their local communities .”

The counties receiving grants were: Allen, Breathitt, Butler, Calloway, Christian, Clay, Clinton, Garrard/Lincoln Solid Waste Management Area, Green, Hart, Jackson, Lee, Leslie, Madison, Magoffin, Marion, Metcalfe, Owsley, Perry, Rowan, Todd, Trigg, Warren, Whitley and Wolfe.

As part of the grant funding, counties must agree to match 25 percent of the grant amount. The Energy and Environment Cabinet (EEC) may waive the 25 percent match on any individual illegal open dump costing more than $50,000 to remediate. 

Funding for the Illegal Open Dump Grant program comes from the Kentucky Pride Fund. The fund is generated through a $1.75 environmental remediation fee per each ton of garbage disposed of at Kentucky municipal solid waste disposal facilities. This “tipping fee” was authorized by the 2002 General Assembly under House Bill 174.

In 2006, Senate Bill 50 changed the reimbursement program to a grant program. The legislation also expanded the scope of the fund to address household hazardous waste collection and recycling infrastructure, in addition to illegal dump and old landfill projects.

Kentucky has made significant progress in addressing the illegal dump issue thanks to this funding, along with statewide cleanup and educational campaigns by local, state and federal agencies.

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Date: 01-09-2017

Kentucky Press News Service