PIERRE — Watertown, Milbank and Brookings, along with a private business that plans to serve five small cities in south-central South Dakota, received grants Thursday for recycling projects of various types from the state Board of Water and Natural Resources.
Board chairman Brad Johnson of Watertown said the $398,380 being distributed marked the first time in his nine years as a member that nearly all of the available solid-waste management money was used in a funding round.
“I think that’s encouraging. It’s a good thing more people are doing it,” he said.
The state Department of Environment and Resources staff recommended that Milbank and a business, Vans Brothers Dray and Recycling, receive the maximum 50 percent grant share for their projects.
Milbank gets a grant of $49,630 to pay for half of the cost for a load scale that will be used to weigh scrap concrete being hauled into its disposal facility. Milbank charges a tonnage fee and ultimately crushes the concrete to re-use as gravel material on road projects.
Van Brothers, based in Corsica, will receive a grant of $28,750 to cover half of the cost for buying a recycling trailer and baler. The trailer will be rotated weekly among Delmont, Platte, Stickney, Armour and Parkston.
The remaining money available this round was split 50-50 between Watertown and Brookings for two similar curbside recycling projects. Each community will get a grant of $155,500 and can apply later for additional funding, DENR officials said.
Watertown had sought a grant of $354,000 toward one-half of the cost for purchasing 8,790 curbside recycling containers and an automated side-dump collection vehicle.
Brookings, meanwhile, requested a grant of $232,000 to cover one-half of the expense for buying 3,200 curbside recycling containers and an automated collection vehicle.
