Lynnfield Awarded $3,600 State Recycling Grant

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) and Senator Brendan Crighton (D-Lynn) joined with the Baker-Polito Administration today to announce the Town of Lynnfield has been awarded a $3,600 recycling grant under the state’s Sustainable Materials Recovery Program (SMRP).

The grants, which are awarded by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), support local recycling and composting initiatives and municipal enforcement activities that increase household hazardous waste diversion and reduce disposal. A total of $3.2 million in funding is being distributed to 269 municipalities and regional solid waste districts, with some communities, like Lynnfield, receiving grants under SMRP’s Recycling Dividends Program (RDP), and others being awarded Small-Scale Initiatives Grants.

“Promoting recycling and reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfills is critical to protecting the environment, not only today but also for future generations,” said Representative Jones. “The Sustainable Materials Recovery Program provides an important funding source to help communities expand their recycling and composting efforts, and I am thrilled to see that Lynnfield will share in the latest round of funding awards.”

“I commend the Town of Lynnfield for their commitment to the environment and for securing this funding, which will open up many opportunities for recycling, waste disposal diversion, and environmental protection initiatives,” said Senator Crighton. “Our environment must continue to be a priority and I look forward to working with the Town on this and future programs.”

The Recycling Dividends Program (RDP) recognizes cities and towns that have implemented policies and programs that maximize materials reuse, recycling, and waste reduction. According to MassDEP, RDP funds can be used for recycling bins or carts, public education and outreach campaigns, collecting hard-to-recycle items, and the establishment of recycling programs in schools, municipal buildings and other public spaces.

Since 2010, MassDEP has awarded more than $41.6 million in SMRP and Recycling Dividends Program funding.