MONTGOMERY COUNTY RECEIVES RECYCLING GRANT

HARRISBURG, FEB. 26 – State Sen. Connie Williams announced that Montgomery County would receive a state grant to aid in its recycling efforts.

A $29,381 grant was awarded to reimburse expenses associated with the county recycling program. Department of Environmental Protection awarded the grant.

"Recycling programs are good for the environment and good for the economy," Williams said. "Not only does it allow everyone to do something to protect the environment and safeguard precious open space, but it also provides new opportunities to grow green industries.

"I applaud not only the efforts of local governments to organize and provide recycling programs and opportunities, but also Pennsylvanians who take the extra time to separate their trash and make the important choice to properly dispose of not only newspaper, tin, glass or plastic, but also electronic waste."

Williams said that she is continuing her efforts on the state level to create a new incentive program to recycle electronic waste. She has introduced legislation S.B. 1115, which would create a statewide electronic waste recycling program. The legislation also would ban the disposal of cathode ray tubes in landfills and incinerators.

"These tubes are typically found in computer and television monitors and contain between five and eight pounds of lead," Williams said. "It is critical that this lead not find its way into the soil or waterways of Pennsylvania. With technology advancing as fast as it is, the public is frequently updating computers and televisions. It just makes sense for Pennsylvania to step forward with a program to help consumers to correctly and safely dispose of old electronics."