STATE GRANT MONIES TO ENHANCE CITY’S YARD WASTE RECYCLING EFFORTS
Harrisburg, PA – Mayor Stephen R. Reed today announced that a state Department of Environmental Protection grant just awarded in the amount of $220,500.00 will go towards the enhancement of the City’s yard waste recycling efforts.
The semi-annual program, initiated by the Mayor last year, provides City residents and businesses with a convenient, user-friendly and efficient method for recycling yard waste.
Reed said the grant monies will be used to purchase a small loader and a vibrating screen machine. The City’s Department of Public Works will use this device to remove trash and litter from yard waste that is collected throughout the year. The removal of debris allows for a more efficient and environmentally-friendly yard waste by-product which is then transferred to a separate facility for processing.
The Mayor said the goal of the City’s yard waste collection program is to capture at least 60% of the City’s green waste, a nearly 600% increase over the estimated participation in the previous yard waste collection efforts.
"The new piece of machinery will provide the City of Harrisburg with the technology necessary to process excess amounts of yard waste. This will not only benefit the City’s residents, but will also help the City stay environmentally friendly, as well," Reed said.
Reed said the City has had a call-in yard waste collection program for many years. However, the newly-implemented semi-annual yard waste collection program has significantly increased the total tonnage of yard waste collected.
The City of Harrisburg currently has a three-year accumulation of yard waste and a two-year accumulation of storm-damaged tree material. The City estimates that with one individual operating the loader, the stored material can be quickly and safely screened to assure a quality and compostable product.
For more information on the City’s curbside yard waste collection program, contact the City’s Department of Public Works at (717) 236-4802.
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