SEATTLE (Recycling Monster): The $4 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is expected to help counties and towns across the Northern Shenandoah Valley to make significant upgrades to recycling infrastructure and expand curbside recycling programs in the region.

The EPA’s Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) grant program selected the Northern Shenandoah Valley Regional Commission (NSVRC) as the recipient towards upgrading tire-grinding operations and expanding curbside recycling pickup. The Commission was one among 24 recipients of the grant throughout the nation.

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The Commission will use the grant money to change the face of recycling across the region, by mainly focusing on keeping tires out of landfill. It plans to install a new tire-grinding machine to separate steel and rubber, which will be sold for re-use.

Also, NSVRC plans to re-establish curbside recycling pickup. Nearly half of the towns that had curbside recycling program in 2017 have stopped the service citing high costs. The Commission will partner with towns and local haulers to resume the service latest by early next year.

The projects funded by the grant will be implemented over the period of next three years, said Dennis Morris, Chairman, NSVRC.