Pennsylvania Manufacturers Get Grants to Use Recyclables

Another $950,000 will be available to help expand and develop markets for recovered materials, and stimulate demand for products with recycled content through the Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center.

Announcing the new funding, Governor Ed Rendell said that strategic investments to increase the use of recyclable materials will help manufacturers manage energy costs, reduce pollution and bolster local recycling collection programs.

"Recycled materials is an important resource for Pennsylvania's manufacturers. They can cut soaring energy costs by incorporating recyclable materials that require less energy to process than virgin raw materials," said the governor.

"Diverting these valuable materials from landfills also protects our environment by preserving natural resources, reducing pollution from the processing of virgin materials and conserving landfill space," he said.

"These initiatives to increase demand for recycled materials also benefit Pennsylvania's municipal recycling programs, which collect bottles, cans, papers and other materials from homes and businesses," said Acting Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger.

"Increasing demand for these commodities means local governments can benefit from higher prices for the materials they collect," he said. "By diverting more materials from landfills, local governments and businesses also can save on their waste disposal costs."

The Recycling Markets Center has been expanding its scope of services to increase the demand for recycled commodities. By supporting research into innovative uses for priority materials such as organic wastes, hard-to-recycle plastics, glass and tires, the center is developing new markets for recyclable materials.

The center is increasing its business assistance programs, shortening the time it takes to market new products or processes that use recycled commodities and developing markets for recovered construction materials in certified green buildings.

The Recycling Markets Center has launched new programs to help manufacturers that use recycled materials to document their reduced carbon emissions and earn tradable carbon credits through the Chicago Climate Exchange, CCX.

In August, the Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center became the first recycled markets development organization to join CCX, the world's first and North America's only voluntary, legally binding integrated greenhouse gas emissions reduction market.

As a member, the center will annually inventory and report its indirect emissions to CCX to verify and audit. Reporting requirements include vehicle use, air travel, as well as business operations.

Once the verification process is complete and total emissions are confirmed, the center is required to purchase and retire CCX Carbon Financial Instrument contracts through the CCX trading platform to fully offset the indirect emissions it produces.

To scope recycled materials processes for carbon emission reduction opportunities, the center has partnered with Environmental Credit Corporation of, State College, Pennsylvania.

Environmental Credit Corporation President, Scott Subler, said, "RMC is taking a leadership role in introducing Pennsylvania recyclers to rapidly developing opportunities in the carbon market. We're excited to be working with them on this important issue."

Pennsylvania's recycling and reuse industry leads northeastern states in employment, payroll and sales numbers, according to state figures.

More than 3,200 recycling and reuse businesses and organizations make more than $18.4 billion in gross annual sales and pay $305 million in taxes.

Recycling and reuse industries in Pennsylvania employ more than 81,000 people at an annual payroll of approximately $2.9 billion.

Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2008. All rights reserved.