MDEQ Promotes International Compost Awareness Week

MDEQ is joining the U.S. Composting Council and other organizations across the country to promote the benefits of composting through the International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW), May 6-12, 2013. The ICAW was started in 1999 by the U.S. Composting Council and is held annually during the first full week of May. The purpose of this multi-media event is to educate the public on home composting and encourage the support of larger scale composting operations through participation in community programs and the purchase of compost from locally owned businesses. The theme for ICAW 2013 is Compost: Nature’s Way to Grow!

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Bills Affecting Recycling Signed by Governor Bryant

The Mississippi Recycling Coalition's Legislative Committee reports that at least two bills involving recycling in Mississippi have passed the State Legislature and have been signed by Governor Phill Bryant. These bills were Senate Bill 2754 introduced by Senator Chris Massey (R-DeSoto County) and House Bill 1680 introduced by Representative Jeffrey Smith (R-Lowndes County).

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MDEQ Solid Waste Assistance Grants Deadlines Approaching

Deadlines for MDEQ’s competitive and non-competitive solid waste assistance grants are approaching: April 1^st (for competitive) and April 30^th (for non-competitive). The competitive grant funds are available for municipalities, counties, regional solid waste management authorities and other multi-county entities for a variety of recycling and solid waste projects. Applications for noncompetitive grant funds are available for counties only for an allocated amount based on the county's state aid road mileage formula.

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SERDC Announces Inaugural LEAP Award Recipients

During the 2012 Recycling Summit held October 1-4, 2012, the Southeast Recycling Development Council (SERDC) launched its annual Recycling LEadership Awards Program. SERDC’s LEAP awards program is designed to recognize those persons or organizations that have truly helped “propel recycling upward and forward” in the Southeast region and beyond.

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2013 AF&PA Recycling Awards Officially Underway

The 2013 American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) Recycling Awards are officially underway! The annual awards program recognizes outstanding school, business and community paper recycling efforts. An award winner in each category earns a $2,000 cash prize, original framed 'paper art' and local and national visibility. This year AF&PA introducted a Fan Favorite award in each category which will be determined by a voting campaign promoted through Facebook and Twitter. In addition, schools are encouraged to submit student artwork and recycling messages that could be used to educate peers about the importance of paper recycling. Winners, runners-up and unique programs will become prominent content on a redesigned paperrecycles.org website and in printed AF&PA outreach materials. For more information or to enter your program, visit Paper Recycling Awards website.