[ADEQ Media] ADEQ Director Owens Announces $334, 000 in Grants to Fund Community Recycling in Verde Valley of Yavapai County

[media@lists.azdeq.gov]

ADEQ Director Owens Announces $334,000 in Grants to Fund Community
Recycling in Verde Valley of Yavapai County

PHOENIX (June 24, 2008) - Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
Director Steve Owens announced today that ADEQ is awarding $334,112 to
fund recycling in the Verde Valley of Yavapai County.
 
Verde Earthworks LLC, in Sedona, will receive $319,112 to establish a
new materials recovery facility, an area where recyclables are
processed, in the Verde Valley, near Interstate 17 in the community of
Rimrock.

The facility, located on eight acres, will process residential and
commercial recyclable materials for the rural area of Verde Valley.  The
funds will pay for a 4,000-square-foot steel building, a baler and a
conveyor for sorting. Verde Earthworks has set a goal of removing 20
percent of the 300 tons daily of solid waste being generated in the
Verde Valley.

The new facility also will employ 12 residents of nearby Rainbow Acres,
a ranch-style community for adults with developmental disabilities. 

"This is a critical part of the recycling infrastructure that is needed
in the state to help increase the overall recycling rate," Director
Owens said. "Recycling is one of our most effective tools to protect our
environment. Recycling conserves our limited natural resources, saves
energy, and reduces the need for landfills. We are glad to support
efforts to increase recycling in Yavapai County." 

In addition, the City of Sedona will receive $15,000 for a household
hazardous waste (HHW) collection event at city hall, the first
collection event in the Verde Valley in more than five years. The city
also will  implement an outreach campaign to inform the citizens of
Sedona about proper disposal of HHW. The funds will be used to hire a
HHW contractor to properly conduct the event.

These grants are funded by ADEQ's Waste Reduction Assistance program,
which is awarded to projects devoted to waste reduction, recycling and
composting. 

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News media interested in additional information on this or any other
topic concerning the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality should
contact the Office of Communications at (602) 771-2215 or via email at
communications@azdeq.gov.

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