How much is Recycling in Pennsylvania worth

Posted by By Eric Zager at 20 December, at 17 : 17 PM Print

Recycling is catching on in Pennsylvania and spreading like wildfire. Governor Ed Rendell noted that residents recycled 5.48 million tons of in 2008 — apparently that is the most recent figure available.

A tonnage figure none the less worth taking note of because it represents more than 1.5 million tons more of waste put to good use than in 2002.

Rendell’s praise for communities leading the charge will come in the form of $17.8 million in grants. That money will benefit recycling programs in 478 communities spread across 58 counties.

“That’s incredibly important because recycling benefits our environment and it benefits our economy, as well. As a state, we’ve recycled more than 37 million tons of material in the past eight years. Rather than businesses and families paying to dispose of those items in a landfill, they’re turning them into new raw materials that manufacturers can use at a lower cost than it takes buy new materials,” said Rendell.

The Money behind those grants is wrapped up in ACT 101 which was created in 1988; requiring communities with certain populations to offer recycling programs.

According to the Governor’s office, recycled goods support more than 3800 businesses and organizations; accounting for more than $20.6 billion in gross annual sales, while providing jobs for more than 52,000 people.

“We have a good track record on recycling because because Pennsylvanians want to do what’s right for their environment,” said Rendell. “We’re committed to recycling today and for years to come because it’s important,” said Rendell.

For more information on recycling follow Rock The Capital to this destination. For more information about the communities earning a slice of the pie head on over this way.

This post was written by:

Eric Zager - who has written 323 posts for Rock The Capital

Eric is a national award winning storyteller. Eric’s work is credited with changing laws, saving lives, and in one instance, saving taxpayers about $2,000,000.00. Mr. Zager’s career in journalism is ripped from the pages of an adventure novel. Upon graduating from the esteemed Newhouse School of Public Communications, he headed north, about as far as one can travel and still stand in the Continental U.S. The call of journalism not a penchant to play with Polar Bears brought Zager to the ‘Last Frontier-Juneau, Alaska. Over the course of Zager’s more than 20 years in journalism, he has covered the political side of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, dodged horse manure on the backside of Churchill Downs, and has uncovered numerous scams and scam artists. Eric is constantly in search of a meaningful story to tell. - Email Eric Zager

Energy & Environment Pennsylvania Issues Political 1.5, Governor, grants, million, Pennsylvania, recycling, Rendell, tons