CNHI
11-24-10 — Wayne County has been awarded $7,178.25 in Kentucky Pride grant funding, which is earmarked for the cleanup of four illegal dumps.
The local project was one of 28 in Kentucky that was awarded funding, according to information released by Governor Steve Beshear recently.
A total of $1.7 million in grant funding was awarded through the Kentucky Pride Fund, which will clean up 167 illegal dumps across the state.
Participating counties agree to provide a 25 percent match for the cleanup of individual illegal open dumps costing less than $50,000 to clean up.
The Energy and Environment Cabinet (EEC) may waive the 25 percent match on any individual illegal open dumps costing more than $50,000 to remediate.
"Illegal dumping is a major problem that raises significant concerns with regard to safety, property values and quality of life in our communities," stated Beshear. "In addition, it is a major economic burden on local government, which is typically responsible for cleaning up dump sites. However, significant progress has been made in addressing the illegal dump issue, due in large part to a statewide cleanup and an education campaign by local, state and federal agencies."
The Division of Waste Management administers the fund.
State funding for the illegal open dump grant comes from a $1.75 environmental remediation fee for each ton of garbage disposed of at Kentucky municipal solid waste disposal facilities.
The "tipping fee," authorized by the 2002 General Assembly under House Bill 174, is collected quarterly and placed in the Kentucky Pride Fund to help combat illegal dumping and finance the closure of old landfills.
The Kentucky Pride Fund is the first legislated and ongoing source of state funding for dump cleanup.
Illegal open dump cleanup has been conducted in Kentucky for several years, using primarily county and federal money.
Senate Bill 50, which became effective in 2006, changed the illegal open dump reimbursement program to a grant program.
The legislation also expanded the scope of the fund to address household hazardous waste collection and recycling infrastructure, in addition to illegal dump and old landfill projects.