Pierce County, the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, and the City of Tacoma have been awarded nearly $234,000 in grants from the Washington State Department of Ecology for projects that support waste reduction and recycling.

Pierce County was awarded a $17,250 grant for a pilot program that will evaluate outreach to people living in multi-family homes about reducing household waste. The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department was awarded a $160,000 grant for a solid waste enforcement program. Finally, the City of Tacoma was awarded a $56,250 grant for food waste processing equipment and infrastructure.

Statewide, the Washington State Department of Ecology granted over $1 million for 24 projects through its Coordinated Prevention Grant program. Grants were awarded in four categories: solid waste enforcement; waste reduction and recycling; organics (yard and food waste, land-clearing debris); and moderate-risk waste (small volumes of hazardous wastes). Coordinated Prevention Grants are appropriated from hazardous substance tax funding created by Washington voters when they passed Initiative 97 — the Model Toxics Control Act — in 1988. Funding is dedicated to environmental cleanups and protection in Washington.

“We are pleased to support these innovative projects that expand recycling, composting and toxics reduction efforts,” said Washington State Department of Ecology Waste 2 Resources program manager Laurie Davies. “Reducing waste and improving how we manage what remains is good for public health and our economy.”

A complete list of grant recipients is available online here.