26 counties to receive funds
FRANKFORT, KY – Governor Steve Beshear today announced that approximately $2.1 million in grant funding has been awarded by the Kentucky Pride Fund for cleanup of 172 illegal dumps in 26 counties across the Commonwealth.
“Illegal dumping is a major problem that raises significant concerns with regard to safety, property values and quality of life in our communities,” Gov. Beshear said. “Cleaning up dump sites also is an economic burden on our local governments. These grants offer local communities funding relief to their tight budgets.”
The following counties received grants: Adair, Boone, Breathitt, Breckinridge, Cumberland, Fleming, Hardin, Harlan, Hart, Henderson, Lee, Leslie, Logan, Lyon, Madison, Magoffin, Mason, Meade, Monroe, Montgomery, Owsley, Pike, Powell, Warren, Whitley and Wolfe.
As part of the grant funding, counties must agree to provide a 25 percent match when it costs less than $50,000 to cleanup an individual, illegal open dump. The Energy and Environment Cabinet may waive the 25 percent match on any individual illegal open dump costing more than $50,000 to remediate.
The Division of Waste Management administers the Kentucky Pride Fund to clean up county dump sites. Funding for the program comes from a $1.75 environmental remediation fee for each ton of garbage disposed of at Kentucky municipal solid waste disposal facilities. This “tipping fee,” authorized by the 2002 General Assembly under House Bill 174, is collected quarterly and placed in the Kentucky Pride Fund.
The Kentucky Pride Fund is the first legislated and ongoing source of state funding for dump cleanup. Previously, illegal open dump cleanup in Kentucky was primarily funded by county and federal money. In 2006, Senate Bill 50 changed the 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.
“Kentucky continues to make significant progress in cleaning up illegal dumps. Along with the grant program, statewide cleanup events and educational campaigns by local, state and federal agencies have been beneficial,” said Energy and Environment Cabinet Secretary Len Peters.
For grant amounts, call your local solid waste coordinator or Lisa Evans at 502-564-6716.