Barnstable County Announces $516,000 in Grants to 21 out of 23 Cape & Islands Towns

Barnstable, MA – Barnstable County is pleased to announce that the Cape and Islands have been awarded a total of $516,463 through the MassDEP’s 2019 Recycling Dividends Program (RDP) under the Sustainable Materials Recovery Program (SMRP).  SMRP Grants support local recycling, composting/organics, reuse, source reduction, policy development and enforcement activities that increase diversion and reduce disposal.  These funds enhance Barnstable County Government’s effort to provide technical assistance on waste reduction and recycling to towns across the Cape and the Islands.

MassDEP Sustainable Materials Recovery Program Grants (Round 1)

Announced October 9, 2019

21 out of 23 municipalities in the southeastern, Massachusetts district received $217,700 for best management practices at their municipal recycling programs.  Best management practices include programs such as, ‘pay as you throw, swap shops, food waste and organics collections, adoption of private hauler regulations, household hazardous waste events, centers for hard to recycle materials, and many more.

MassDEP Sustainable Materials Recovery Program Grants (Round 2)

Announced – November 15, 2019 on America Recycles Day

Towns across the Cape and Islands received $299,463 for implementation of programs such as mattress recycling, ‘pay as you throw’, sheds for universal waste, and source-separated glass collection. 

This is the second year that all 15 towns of Barnstable County were awarded RDP funds.  Nantucket joins the MassDEP grant program for the first time, and the towns of Oak Bluffs and Tisbury rejoin after several years.

Listed below are the towns and awards received:

Barnstable County

• Barnstable- $14,300 in RDP funds and $7,500 for mattress recycling at the transfer station
• Bourne- $16,900 in RDP funds
• Brewster- $9,600 in RDP funds
• Chatham- $8,400 in RDP funds
• Dennis- $13,200 in RDP funds
• Eastham- $6,600 in RDP funds
• Falmouth- $35,000 in RDP funds
• Harwich- $12,100 in RDP funds
• Mashpee- $6,600 in RDP funds
• Orleans- $5,400 in RDP funds and $34,890 for implementation of ‘pay as you throw’
• Provincetown- $9,600 in RDP funds
• Sandwich- $9,600 in RDP funds
• Truro- $8,400 in RDP funds
• Wellfleet- $10,200 in RDP funds and $6,667 for a mattress recycling initiative
• Yarmouth- $13,000 in RDP funds and $6,000 for source-separation of glass

Dukes County

• Chilmark- $2,800 in RDP funds
• Edgartown- $3,500 in RDP funds
• Oak Bluffs- $4,200 in RDP funds and $3,000 for a universal waste shed, $7,500 for  mattress recycling initiative equipment, and $5,612 for mattress recycling initiative
• Tisbury- $6,600 in RDP funds and $4,931 mattress recycling initiative, $138,030 for ‘pay as you throw’, $3,000 for a universal waste shed, and $7,500 for mattress recycling equipment
• West Tisbury- $3,500 in RDP funds

Nantucket County

• $18,200 in RDP funds and $61,833 for mattress recycling initiative, $10,000 for mattress recycling equipment, and $3,000 for a universal waste shed

Kari Parcell, Barnstable County Cape Cod Cooperative Extension’s Municipal Assistance Coordinator, provides technical assistance to communities in managing recycling and waste disposal challenges and acts as a resource in assisting municipalities in applying for SMRP grant funding.  Parcell says,” With these funds, MassDEP has responded to the respective needs and challenges of the 21 municipalities, and this will help improve and expand programs at these solid waste facilities. Congratulations to all the towns and their hard work!”