Athens, Ohio newest recycling partnership grantee to bring recycling carts to residents
The Recycling Partnership is pleased to announce that it has awarded a grant for residential recycling carts to the City of Athens, Ohio.
Athens joins a distinguished list of grant recipients, including the most recent to deliver carts, Emmet County, Michigan and Greenville, South Carolina. Athens, a college town with a longstanding history of recycling, will use The Recycling Partnership’s grant funds and technical assistance to purchase 5,000 new recycling carts and deliver a high-quality education campaign. Local nonprofit Rural Action is also providing staff support to move the project forward.
Athens originally applied for a 2015 cart grant. While not selected in the first round, additional grant money opened up, and The Partnership approached the city with an offer of funding to kick-start the project.
“We are excited to partner with such a dedicated community,” says The Partnership’s Technical Assistance Director, Cody Marshall. “This also provides a great opportunity to grow recycling and show successful recovery in a very rural region of the country.”
The grant will allow the city to capitalize on recent improvements made to the Athens-Hocking Recycling Center’s MRF, as it will improve curbside access to recycling, making it more convenient for residents citywide, including those living in multifamily housing, which in Athens is predominately students. Athens anticipates that cart distribution will take place in early fall 2016.
“We are proud of this project,” says Athens’ Deputy Service-Safety Director, Ron Lucas. “Our community prides itself on its environmental ethic and access to increase recycling through the new carts is an easy way for residents to participate in building a stronger Athens.
Lucas also noted, “This project is a perfect example of ‘partnership.’ Our hauler and processor, Athens-Hocking Recycling Center, has been great to work with, and we are pleased to partner with both The Recycling Partnership and our local recycling experts, Rural Action, to bring lasting improvements to our community.”
