Vermont Business Magazine The Central Vermont Solid Waste Management District (CVSWMD) will increase outreach into the nine most rural communities among its 18 member municipalities thanks to an $89,000 grant recently awarded by the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development program. The grant will fund a series of presentations, workshops and webinars that will help businesses and residents learn to recycle, compost, and understand Vermont’s Universal Recycling Law.
“The USDepartment of Agriculture is committed to supporting rural infrastructure providers as they develop more sophisticated methods to serve rural communities and conserve our rural environment,” said Ted Brady, USDA Rural Development State Director. “USDA Rural Development is excited to partner with the Central Vermont Solid Waste Management District as they work to help their communities utilize Act 148 compliance to improve local environmental sustainability.”
“The CVSWMD is pleased to receive this grant from the United States Department of Agriculture. The programming funded by this grant will enable the CVSWMD to increase valuable educational services and aid the District in providing information concerning the importance of recycling, composting, and other methods of sustainable materials management to member towns,” said Leesa Stewart, CVSWMD General Manager. “This programming will provide district residents and businesses with the knowledge needed to comply with the State of Vermont’s Composting and Recycling Initiative, Act 148.”
Thanks to the grant, CVSWMD outreach efforts will increase in the towns of Bradford, Chelsea, Fairlee, Hardwick, Orange, Plainfield, Tunbridge, Walden and Woodbury between October 2015 and September 2016. Grant funding will also enable the District to create posters, handouts, and videos to distribute on social media and the CVSWMD website, cvswmd.org. Videos, booklets and handouts created with grant funds will be available as downloads to empower any Vermont resident or organization to learn the ins and outs of recycling and composting.
CVSWMD Zero Waste Outreach Coordinator and Grant Manager, Cassandra Hemenway, said “I will be offering workshops, talks and trainings about how to recycle, what to know about the Vermont Recycling and Composting Initiative, how landlords can meet the law’s mandates, how to get started composting, and much, much more.” Hemenway added “I’m looking forward to spending more time in some of our most rural towns and working with residents and businesses to increase recycling in the district.”
Businesses or community groups interested in hosting a presentation are invited to call Hemenway at802-229-9383or800-730-9475at ext102, or email[email protected].
USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, administers and manages housing, business and community infrastructure programs through a national network of state and local offices. Rural Development has an active portfolio of more than $212 billion in loans and loan guarantees. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural areas. For more information on Rural Development visit the Vermont/New Hampshire Rural Development website rurdev.usda.gov/nh-vtHome, or contact USDA RD at(802) 828-6000.
About CVSWMD:
CVSWMD offers an array of programing that supports its Zero Waste implementation plan. Programs include a robust School Zero Waste Program, a Business Composting Program, the Additional Recyclables Collection Center, technical support and at-cost equipment for back yard composting, and reuse grants. For more information, go tocvswmd.org.
CVSWMD member municipalities include: Barre City, Barre Town, Berlin, Bradford, Calais, Chelsea, East Montpelier, Fairlee Hardwick, Middlesex, Montpelier, Orange, Plainfield, Tunbridge, Walden, Washington, Williamstown, and Woodbury.