Pennsylvania DEP awards $279,594 in compost infrastructure development grants

Ross Township, PA— Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty awarded $279,594 in compost infrastructure development grants to Pennsylvania businesses and nonprofit organizations.

The grant program aims to increase the volume of organic materials being composted instead of put into the waste stream. The grants also help businesses increase the use of organic materials in the production of finished products.

McGinty made the announcement while touring the Scott Farms Inc. compost and mulch facility in Ross Township, Monroe County. Owners Brock Scott and Marty Gerardo will use their $75,000 grant to purchase a second “wheel” loader. The second loader will enable the company to continue processing yard waste without having to stop to fill trucks using the only available loader.

The Compost Infrastructure Development Grant Program awards business entities and nonprofit organizations in the commonwealth up to $75,000 for projects that incorporate recovered organic materials into their products or increase the amount of organic material processed at an existing composting facility.

Other grant recipients are:

Westminster College, Lawrence County, $75,000: The grant will allow expansion the compost program to include food waste from the college cafeterias.

Briar Patch Organic Farm, Union County, $54,594: The grant will allow this private compost operation to increase the amount of yard waste it processes and begin processing food waste from Bucknell University

Lewisburg Federal Penitentiary. Elk County, $75,000: The grant will enable Woodbed to purchase equipment to fully develop its leaf- and yard waste-composting operation.

For more information on the Compost Infrastructure Development Grant Program visit DEP’s web site at www.dep.state.pa.us, keyword: “Compost.”