Grant winners announced

By JAMIE COLEMAN

OSS Solid Waste District

Twelve organizations received funding to start recycling programs or to buy products made from recycled materials in the second round of the competitive funding grant program offered by the Ottawa, Sandusky, Seneca Joint Solid Waste Management District.

The grant program’s main priority is to set up recycling programs for educational institutions, governmental entities or non-profit organizations. Any agency applying must have a recycling program in place in order to apply for funds for products made from recycled material. The applicant must match a minimum of 25 percent of the total project cost, and products must contain at least 25 percent recycled material.

Entities receiving grant funding for products made from recycled materials include: Benton-Carroll-Salem School District – $594 for recycling and trash containers, Catawba Island Township Trustees – $4,115 for signs located at Cedar Meadow Preserve, Danbury Township Trustees – $4,900 for improvements (concrete pad) to the Aim To Be Green recycling drop-off site, Franciscan Earth Literacy Center – $4,062 for picnic tables and trail benches, Flat Rock Homes – $4,394 for recycled furniture, Goodwill Industries of Erie, Huron, Ottawa & Sandusky Counties – $1,700 for picnic tables, Jackson Township Trustees, Seneca County – $1,699 for sign and mulch in cemetery, New Riegel Schools – $8,173 for aluminum bleachers, City of Port Clinton – $5,174 for

recycled flooring at the Port Clinton Senior Center, Sandco Industries – $5,477 for recycled awnings, Sandusky County Park District – $2,362 for recycled signs to be placed at River Cliff Park and Tiffin University – $7,079 for outdoor furniture.

Amy Drummer, Assistant Director of the Solid Waste District, administers the grant program and sees the direct benefits to the community.

“These grants provide an opportunity for local organizations to create or expand recycling programs,” said Drummer. “The purchase of recycled products provides the public examples of items that are made from the materials they recycle every day.”

For more information on the grant program or to view grant guidelines and application or for recycling information, view the OSS Solid Waste District’s website at www.recycleoss.org. Get connected with the District. Join us on Facebook by searching: Ottawa Sandusky Seneca Green Recycling Scene and hitting the like button on our page. Follow us on Twitter by searching: OSS Solid Waste @Aim2BGreen.

The Ottawa, Sandusky, Seneca Joint Solid Waste Management District was formed in March 1989 under HB 592 which required counties to form single or multi-county solid waste districts. The District has developed a solid waste plan which ensures disposal capacity for the next 15 years. The District also sponsors waste reduction, recycling, and reuse programs designed to increase recycling to meet state waste reduction goals.

Jamie Coleman is community outreach specialist for OSS Solid Waste District, 1875 E. State St., Fremont, recycleoss.org.