The City of Fort Worth is in for a major environmental boost, thanks to a hefty $4.8 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Specifically aimed at recycling infrastructure improvements, this funding is a part of the EPA's Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) grant program. According to the City of Fort Worth, the cash injection is set to support the Environmental Services Department's Reuse Program and Recycling Enhancement Project.
With the environment in need, the initiative puts forth a plan to deploy a pilot reuse program at Old Hemphill and Hillshire Drop-Off Stations. This is to encourage residents to recycle things like furniture and electronics, allowing for their reuse within the community. While seeking to reduce landfill waste, education and outreach programs funded by the grant are expected to help reduce contamination in curbside recycling.
This financial boon will see the purchase of four new compactors to support cardboard recycling, with one destined for each Drop-Off Station. Moreover, it's reported that the Old Hemphill Drop-Off Station will also undergo site improvements to facilitate scrap metal and tire recycling.
Over the next three years, Fort Worth neighborhoods can expect to see an uptick in recycling education and outreach efforts, thanks to this grant. Notably, to promote recycling and waste education, the electronic signboards at all four Drop-Off Stations in Fort Worth will be upgraded. The EPA's SWIFR funding is seen as a crucial support in the city's mission to evolve materials management and waste services while accommodating Fort Worth's growth.
