Pennsylvania recycling investments will benefit manufacturers, environment, municipalities

New strategic investments targeted to increase the use of recyclable materials will help manufacturers manage energy costs, reduce pollution and bolster local recycling collection programs, Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell announced.

The Governor indicated that the commonwealth is making $1 million available for manufacturers to buy equipment that increases use of recycled content in finished products.

The Governor also announced $950,000 to continue the progress being made by the Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center in expanding and developing markets for recovered materials, and stimulating demand for products with recycled content.

“Recycled materials are an important resource for Pennsylvania’s manufacturers. They can cut soaring energy costs by incorporating recyclable materials that require less energy to process than virgin raw materials,” said Governor Rendell.

The $1 million available through the recycling markets infrastructure development grants program will help companies find new ways to use more types of recyclable materials. Grants of up to $500,000 are available to buy machinery or equipment that will increase consumption of recyclable materials recovered in Pennsylvania.

The grants are made to businesses and nonprofit organizations that will manufacture a product or reuse an existing product using recyclable materials.

Applications for recycling markets infrastructure development grants will be accepted until November 3, 2008. To obtain a grant application, visit www.depweb.state.pa.us , keyword: Market Development, or contact Charles Scheidler, Bureau of Waste Management, cscheidler@state.pa.us, (717) 787-7382.