SEATTLE (Recycling Monster): The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced $58 million in Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) grants to support 17 local governments nationwide. In Region 10, two initiatives in Washington and Alaska secured funding to enhance recycling efforts and waste reduction programs.
In Washington, the City of Shoreline will establish the Shoreline Reuse Center, a multi-purpose hub where residents and businesses can donate, repair, and repurpose materials. The center will combine a salvaged building supply resale area, tool library, community bike shop, and space for local organizations, aiming to divert more than 670 tons of reusable items from landfills during the grant period. Shoreline will receive $4,448,848 to bring this project to life.
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Alaska’s Unalaska DRIVE project focuses on end-of-life vehicle management, incorporating abandoned vehicle removal, equipment purchases for material sorting, public education on recycling, workforce training, and sustainable long-term operations. The program has been awarded $3,800,480.
“These grants provide vital resources for communities to modernize recycling programs and infrastructure,” said EPA Region 10 Administrator Emma Pokon. “Investing in these projects helps tackle current waste challenges while creating a cleaner, more sustainable future.”