New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
The Town of Dartmouth was recently awarded a $27,000 grant by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection through the Recycling Dividends Program (RDP). Congratulations, Dartmouth!
According to a press release from MassDEP, the RDP “recognizes municipalities that have implemented policies and programs proven to maximize materials reuse and recycling, as well as waste reduction.”
The Town of Dartmouth was awarded the grant for the many programs it has in place for residents. These include:
• Save Money And Reduce Trash (SMART) program that has significantly reduced the amount of trash residents are setting out for collection.
• Subsidized home composting bins offered with the help of the Greater New Bedford Regional Refuse Management District (GNBRRMD). For more information, please visit gnbrrmdistrict.org.
• Yard waste drop off at the Water Pollution Facility.
• Dartmouth Transfer Station which accepts a wide variety of items for recycling.
• Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off events held twice a year by the GNBRRMD.
• Enforcement by Town and GNBRRMD staff for contamination in recycling carts.
• Education about recovering textiles (clothing, shoes, linens, etc.).
• A wide variety of educational efforts including flyers mailed to residents, posts on social media, ads in the local newspaper, press releases, messages on sandwich boards in Town buildings, and more.
“This is a win-win-win situation,” notes David Hickox, Director of Public Works. “More programs in place to properly divert materials from the landfill results in more money for the Town of Dartmouth to invest in responsible materials management. This in turn extends the life of the local landfill which provides an economical outlet for materials that cannot be recycled, reused, or composted.”
The grant funds will be used toward processing costs for recyclables, additional recycling carts for residents and other recycling related purchases.
For more information, visit www.town.dartmouth.ma.us/solid-waste-recycling-division or the Dartmouth Recycling Facebook page. If you have questions, please contact the recycling office by phone at (774) 503-0254 or by email at Marissa@gnbrrmdistrict.org.
