Kentucky announces grants for cleanup

The Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet (EEC) has announced that $875,000 in grant funding has been awarded by its Kentucky Pride Fund to assist in the cleanup of 102 illegal dump sites in the state.

“Illegal dumping is a major problem that raises significant concerns with regard to safety, property values and quality of life in our communities,” says Len Peters, EEC’s secretary. “It is a major economic burden on local governments that are typically responsible for cleaning up dump sites.”

To receive the grant money counties must agree to provide a 25 percent match on illegal open dumps costing less than $50,000 to clean up. EEC says it may waive the 25 percent match on any individual dump costing more than $50,000 to remediate.

Funding for the program comes from a $1.75 environmental remediation fee for each ton of garbage disposed of at Kentucky municipal solid waste disposal facilities. The money is collected quarterly and placed in the Kentucky Pride Fund.