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ALBANY — New York State Division of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos introduced $2 million in new grant funding is now out there to municipalities statewide to assist set up or broaden meals scrap recycling applications and services. The primary $1 million in grants will prioritize eligible initiatives that dedicate at the very least half of the funding to serving Environmental Justice communities to make sure these communities disproportionately overburdened by environmental air pollution are capable of take part within the initiative’s local weather and waste-reduction advantages.
“Meals scrap recycling infrastructure is crucial to attain New York’s waste diversion objectives and these grants assist guarantee equitable entry to this new funding alternative,” stated Commissioner Seggos. “Composting will help shield our shared setting by diverting meals waste to assist cut back our dependance on landfills, shield the planet from dangerous methane emissions, and recycle natural vitamins again into the soil to develop wholesome meals. As well as, profitable applications just like the Meals Donation and Meals Waste Scraps Recycling Regulation help the State’s efforts below Governor Kathy Hochul’s management to cut back waste and climate-altering emissions whereas getting lots of of 1000’s of kilos of high quality meals to New Yorkers in want.”
Commissioner Seggos celebrated the announcement at an occasion on the Radix Ecological Sustainability Middle within the metropolis of Albany with Mayor Kathy Sheehan, recognizing town’s meals scraps drop-off location and compost schooling program. Town acquired a $225,000 Meals Waste Discount grant from DEC in 2019 and is placing it to work in the neighborhood.
Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan stated, “I wish to thank Governor Hochul and Commissioner Seggos for investing in meals scrap recycling applications and services on a neighborhood stage. Funding waste diversion applications in an equitable approach permits for elevated participation in sustainable practices and offers nourishment to these with meals insecurities. The advantages to the environment embrace lowering dependence on landfills and combustors and serving to decrease climate-altering emissions whereas producing useful, nutrient-rich compost that improves soil well being and water high quality. New Yorkers are nationwide leaders relating to sustainability, and successfully managing and recycling the waste we generate is in step with that precedent. What a beautiful approach to acknowledge Compost Consciousness Week right here in Albany and throughout the State.”
Recycling meals scraps, grass, leaves, yard clippings, and different natural supplies by way of composting helps to decrease climate-altering emissions from landfills and combustors, whereas producing useful, nutrient-rich compost that improves soil well being and water high quality. Diverting organics from landfills is a element of the Draft Scoping Plan to implement New York’s bold Local weather Management and Neighborhood Safety Act. The State’s Local weather Motion Council is holding a public listening to tomorrow in Brooklyn to obtain feedback on the draft Scoping Plan. Go to climate.ny.gov for extra info.
The meals scraps and compost initiatives focused for funding on this spherical of DEC grants are amongst many efforts New York State is enterprise to advertise each elevated meals donation and meals scraps recycling. Earlier this 12 months, the State carried out the New York State Meals Donation and Meals Scraps Recycling Regulation, which requires companies and establishments that generate an annual common of two tons of wasted meals per week or extra to donate extra edible meals and recycle all remaining meals scraps if they’re inside 25 miles of an organics recycler. Roughly 1,150 companies throughout the state are required to donate, with 320 companies additionally required to recycle their meals scraps. DEC partnered with Feeding New York State, the meals financial institution affiliation of New York State, to offer help to companies to assist arrange or improve meals donation applications. Within the final six months since this profitable partnership bought underway, greater than 440,000 kilos of edible meals was donated to meals banks and offered on to folks in want.
Feeding New York State Government Director Dan Egan stated, “The Meals Donation and Meals Scraps Recycling Regulation is already having a huge impact on households in want. We now have seen a considerable improve in donations from 43 new donors, with extra slated to come back on-line shortly. Our partnership with Commissioner Seggos’ employees at DEC is what makes this attainable. DEC funding and experience has enabled us to go to dozens of potential new donors, handle new, prime quality meals donations, and divert over 400,000 kilos of completely good meals away from landfills. This meals is feeding folks proper now, and is proof that good public coverage works. Within the subsequent few years our purpose is to divert a million kilos monthly of top of the range meals away from waste streams and put it to its meant use of feeding folks. We thank Governor Hochul for her management on these points, in addition to the employees at DEC for his or her great partnership in preventing starvation and sustaining the setting. Congratulations to Mayor Kathy Sheehan for this nice step ahead for Albany.”
This new funding is supported by the State Environmental Safety Fund (EPF). Among the many many environmental victories within the enacted 2022-23 State Finances, Governor Hochul and legislative leaders elevated the EPF to $400 million, the highest-ever stage of funding in this system’s historical past. This increase consists of a rise of $500,000 for organics recycling that’s a part of a complete improve of $3.7 million for municipal recycling over final 12 months’s finances. The EPF helps local weather change mitigation and adaptation efforts, improves agricultural assets to advertise sustainable agriculture, protects water sources, advances conservation efforts, and offers leisure alternatives for New Yorkers.
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