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Grant Application - North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality - Helene Recovery Recycling Infrastructure
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INFORMATION CONTACT:
Caleb Sinclair, Solid Waste, Director, 704-296-4234
ACTION REQUESTED:
Authorize the County Manager to submit the associated grant application and make necessary assurances and certifications associated with the grant application as substantially consistent with this agenda item, which includes the authorization to execute documents related to award of the grant and budget funds as appropriate.
PRIOR BOARD ACTIONS:
None.
BACKGROUND:
The purpose of this grant program is to assist Hurricane Helene-impacted local governments with the implementation, expansion, recovery, and improvement of waste reduction programs in western North Carolina. The Division of Environmental Assistance and Customer Service (DEACS) administers the Helene Recovery Recycling Infrastructure (HRRI) grant program through funding from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Grant D1-05D52025, Hazardous Waste Management State Program Support (66.801) through the American Relief Act of 2025. Successful applicants to the Helene Recovery Recycling Infrastructure grant program will enter into contracts with NCDEQ (the pass-through entity) to become subrecipients of the EPA grant.
The Union County department of Solid Waste is committed to providing environmentally responsible and cost-effective waste management solutions and infrastructure for the residents of Union County. We are seeking a $4,306,100 grant to expand our recycling infrastructure which will increase yard waste processing capacity, increase beneficial compost production and enhance safety, program efficiency and public access, at residential waste and recycling centers throughout Union County.
Union County manages an average of 6,300 Tons of yard waste annually. This grant will make possible the revitalization of Union County’s composting program as it will make equipment available for processing and composting material on-site on a much greater scale. Currently, this waste material is processed, hauled and disposed off-site by a contract service provider. Equipment made available through the HRRI grant award will position the Union County department of Solid Waste to have the throughput processing capacity to manage increased volumes of material when needed to assist our region with storm generated material if/when future events impact our area. This project will create increased processing capacity for yard waste for Union County and will produce beneficial compost material and save the Solid Waste program approximately $300,000 annually in contract costs.
Elements of this grant project scope include improvements to recycling convenience centers which will improve public access, enhance safety and efficiency to the collection and transportation of traditional recyclables and E-Waste.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Grant request for $4,306,100