Breathitt Awarded $179,000 For Recycling

Governor Andy Beshear announced two recycling grants for Breathitt totaling more than $179,000 on Tuesday.

The county was awarded $171,824.67 to “support and expand the county’s recycling program” and an additional $8,834 to purchase materials for the Elk View Campground.

“We are very happy to receive this grant,” County Judge Executive Jeff Noble said on Tuesday.  “This will help us recycle more material and benefit the people of the county.” 

Using the funds, the Breathitt County Fiscal Court plans to purchase a paper shredder/baler, a new skid steer, and several recycling collection containers to be placed throughout the county.

The grant is a portion of the millions of dollars distributed by the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet’s Division of Waste Management across the state.

Judge Noble thanked the members of the Breathitt County Fiscal Court and Solid Waste Coordinator Gordon Hunter for their efforts in completing the application and securing the grant.

The announcement included over $1.3 million in funding for projects that will transform recycled waste tires into safe, durable products for playgrounds and public parks.

A second grant was also announced and will provide funding for the Fiscal Court to purchase five park benches and fine picnic tables for the Elk View Campground at the head of South Fork.  Beshear announced that the county will receive $8,834 to make those purchases to enhance the campground.

Beshear said the grant was an effort to use recycled tire materials, which is “significantly reducing waste to support cleaner, healthier communities for all Kentucky families.”

Breathitt’s grant was one of 36 projects in 30 counties.

“These projects are a proactive way to turn a problem into a solution,” said Gov. Beshear. “By recycling tires into safe, durable resources for our parks, we are reducing waste while supporting active, healthy lifestyles for Kentucky families.”

The grant is made possible by the Waste Tire Trust Fund, established in 1998 by the Kentucky General Assembly to receive fees collected from new tire sales, and helps reuse the approximately 5 million scrap tires generated in Kentucky each year.

“Projects funded by this grant program ultimately reduce pollution and keep tires out of landfills and other places they might otherwise end up, such as in our waterways or along roadways,” said Energy and Environment Cabinet Secretary John Lyons. “I’m pleased to see so many communities participating in the program.”

Officials expect the new recycling collection container to be in use later this year, and the benches will be in place soon.