NMDC Seeking $118,000 Grant to Manage Waste

By RACHEL RICE; OF THE NEWS STAFF

CARIBOU – In an effort to make waste disposal in the region more efficient, officials with the Northern Maine Development Commission are seeking a $118,000 solid waste management grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Connie Bondeson, NMDC environmental planner, said Wednesday that, if approved, the money would be used to help reduce the pollution of water in rural areas, educate the public about composting and recycling, and improve planning and management of rural solid waste sites.

“There’s only so much space to put your garbage,” Bondeson said.

“When you throw it out, it doesn’t just disappear; we have to incinerate it or landfill it. It’s important for people to know where their garbage goes and how expensive it is. What we’re trying to do is improve recycling; we’re trying to help get people’s heads around the whole idea of waste management.”

Last year, Bondeson said, Aroostook County spent about $6.5 million on trash disposal and put about 50,000 tons of garbage in landfills. She said the county is distinctive in that it already works regionally to address its trash problems, but that the grant money would help officials improve efficiency.

One of the tasks in the grant application is a regional solid waste management plan, which Bondeson said would be the first of its kind in Maine. As part of the plan, officials would:

. Examine the state of solid waste management in northern Maine.

. Identify problems and barriers.

. Outline strategies for achieving the state’s 50 percent recycling goals.

. Serve as the basis for solid waste management planning and decision-making for a 10-year planning period.

The second task in the grant is a backyard composting education program, which Bondeson said has been very popular in the past. Funding would allow for 10 courses, with slots for 10 people each, to be offered in the south central and northern areas of Aroostook County. The program would provide education on the importance of composting and work to reduce the amount of organic material entering local landfills.

The third task in the grant is a regional multimedia training program, which would allow NMDC officials to provide training and educational opportunities in the region. The program is expected to:

. Foster a broader understanding among area residents and businesses about the environment and economic reasons to implement or improve recycling and waste reduction activities.

. Increase the recycling rate in local communities.

. Provide training and education to solid waste haulers, landfill managers and transfer station operators.

Bondeson said officials expect to receive word from USDA’s Rural Development agency by mid-April about the grant. If approved, officials would be implementing it between October 2007 and September 2008.

“We’re throwing away a lot of garbage, not recycling enough and spending a lot of money on waste disposal,” Bondeson said. “Hopefully, with this grant, we can become more efficient, recycle certain items out of the waste stream, and provide community education.”

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