Posted: Wednesday, April 24, 2013 12:30 am The Garden Island

LIHU‘E — The Solid Waste Division recently awarded $40,000 in recycling and waste diversion grants to local organizations.

“The county is pleased to work with these organizations to further awareness about waste diversion, and to make strides toward our efforts to conserve resources and reduce the impact on our landfill,” Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. said in a news release.

Among those selected were: Green Hawai‘i Conferences; Kalaheo Elementary School; Kaua‘i Community Recycling Services; Kaua‘i Kunana Diary; Lihu‘e Court Townhomes; and Zero Waste Kaua‘i.

Carvalho said the County Recycling Office will be tracking the projects, and expects to see benefits to the community over time.

“We’re also hoping that these projects will become self-sustaining,” he said.

The projects selected for funding include:

• Special events training, Zero Waste Kaua‘i, $10,000 — Under this grant, the agency will develop a comprehensive event coordinator training package and a training video titled “How to put on a Zero Waste Event.” In addition, Zero Waste Kaua‘i will conduct training sessions with event coordinators and oversee a minimum of six zero waste events.

• Expansion of recycling services and educational outreach, Kaua‘i Community Recycling Services, $20,400 — The grant will allow KCRS to expand its services at the Kilauea recycling center to include non-HI5 recyclables, such as cardboard, mixed paper and non-HI5 containers (plastic, glass and metals). The program will also support monthly visits to schools to provide training on how to manage redemption container recycling drives for fundraising purposes.

• Expansion of recycling programs for residents of Lihu‘e Court Townhomes, $2,000 — The program includes the purchase of recycling bins for households, expanding the recyclables accepted on property and increasing its educational training programs.

• Expansion of recycling programs, Kalaheo Elementary School, $2,500 — The grant will allow the school to implement an ink cartridge recycling program for Kaua‘i residents and businesses, distribute reusable bags to students, and increase recycling promotions with the goal of increasing school fundraising.

• Facilitate the production of local sustainable reused products, Kaua‘i Kunana Diary, $2,599 — Kunana Dairy will produce products made from reused animal feed bags including bags, aprons and wallets sewn. This project will raise awareness about local and sustainable reused products.

• Facilitate collaborative school recycling programs, Green Hawai‘i Conferences, $2,500 — The grant will enable Green Hawai‘i to evaluate successful school recycling programs, provide networking opportunities for schools and replicate successful programs through the network.

Another project is pending grant approval.

Taken from the Garden Island times