Published: May 16, 2008 11:32 pm      

Mineral to try again for recycling grant

Collaboration with Hampshire could produce funds

KEYSER - Although their first application for grant money to establish a county-wide recycling program was turned down, the Mineral County Commissioners are hopeful that a collaboration with neighboring Hampshire County will help them meet with success on their second try for funding.

Commissioner Wayne Spiggle, who has been very vocal on several occasions about his disappointment in Mineral County being overlooked for recycling money, presented a plan of action for launching a program to his fellow commissioners on Thursday.

“The Rehabilitation Environmental Action Plan (REAP) is a very good program and Mineral County should strive to adopt and support every one of its programs,” he said.

“However, we are very disappointed that our request for a recycling planning grant was refused.

“One dollar from each ton of waste that we send to the Tucker County landfill goes to REAP,” he said. “Yet, we have not seen very much of that money coming back to us.

“Hopefully, by partnering with Hampshire County for our next funding request, we will be successful.”

In the plan presented Thursday, Spiggle explained that Mineral and Hampshire counties, as well as the Region 8 Solid Waste Authority, would be cooperating on the funding request being submitted to REAP.

If a grant is approved, the two counties would establish a program similar to those already in operation in Monongalia and Raleigh counties.

Representatives from Mineral and Hampshire counties, as well as Region 8, have visited both counties to learn about their programs and were impressed with the operation.

“As in Monongalia County, our program will depend on the willingness of interested citizens to take recyclables to a nearby site,” Spiggle explained. “If the sites are located at local middle schools and if children are involved in the exercise in a way that creates competition and rewards, then the Raleigh County model will come into play.”

If the grant is approved, Spiggle said the funding would be used to purchase a vehicle to collect the recyclable materials, as well as eight standard-size collection bins.

If grant regulations do not permit use of the money to hire a director, then he suggested the incoming Region 8 executive director could take on the responsibilities.

If it is successful, Spiggle said the two-county recycling program could be the beginning of a regional collaboration.

“This proposal is considered to be the first step towards a comprehensive regional recycling plan involving all willing counties in the Region 8 Solid Waste district,” he said.

“The outcome, even with this initial initiative, will reduce the landfill waste stream and will serve as a potent teaching tool for young people to embrace the recycling ethic.”

Commission President Janice Larue commented during a previous meeting that establishing a recycling program “should be easy enough for us to do.

“We have a lot of people who are really interested in it,” she said.

Commissioner Cindy Pyles made the motion Thursday to pursue the second recycling grant, and the motion passed 3-0.

“I’ll now put this in the hands of the Hampshire County Commission,” Spiggle said of the action plan.

Contact Liz Beavers at lizbeavers@yahoo.com.