LYNN — The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has announced grant recipients awarded through its Sustainable Material Recovery Program (SMRP) including Lynn and Saugus.
Lynn will receive $52,000 in grant funding while Saugus will receive $10,400.
“It is great to see that Lynn is receiving this Sustainable Material Recovery grant,” said Sen. Thomas M. McGee. “This grant will be helpful for the continued efforts by the city to go green and help reduce solid waste.”
Rep. Lori Ehrlich said, “This state grant helps create a more sustainable Lynn for everyone. The SMRP helps us do more with less by recycling and reusing more products, keeping our streets and oceans cleaner.”
In 1990, when Massachusetts residents recycled about 10 percent of their discarded materials, the state adopted its first Solid Waste Master Plan, a blueprint for managing solid waste.
Since then, Massachusetts government and citizens’ efforts have led to a 47 percent recycling rate overall, one of the best in the nation.
“Lynn has made great progress and with our recycling program we are seeing the benefits across the city,” Rep. Brendan Crighton said. “We are very pleased that through this state grant we will have additional resources to continue our efforts.”
“The curbside recycling program has been a huge success in Lynn thanks to the great efforts by our residents and businesses,” said Rep. Dan Cahill. “This grant rewards these efforts.”
The grant funds may be applied to recycling and composting equipment, mattress recycling, Pay-As-You-Throw programs, waste reduction enforcement, school recycling, and organics capacity development projects.
“It’s so good to hear that Saugus will be receiving the DEP Sustainable Material Recovery grant,” said Rep. Donald Wong. “The town of Saugus has proven that it has been utilizing certain programs and policies that are proven to encourage the town to recycle and help to go green.”
“I want to thank the DEP for awarding the Town of Saugus this grant,” said Rep. RoseLee Vincent. “It is critical for the health and welfare of the general public, and for the protection of our environment, that all communities strive to end up with zero waste. Through programs like SMRP, we can hopefully reduce waste that will ultimately end up in our landfills.”