State spurs private investments, job creation through grants to North Carolina recycling businesses

RALEIGH – The state Department of Environmental Quality’s Recycling Program recently provided $511,000 in recycling business development grants to 17 North Carolina recycling companies that are expected to create 38 jobs and generate more than $1.3 million in new, private business investments while reducing the state’s dependence on landfill disposal.

“Recycling businesses provide high quality jobs for North Carolinians, spur economic growth and keep valuable materials out of the waste stream,” said DEQ Secretary Michael Regan. “These businesses convert recyclables into raw materials for American manufacturing companies, resulting in stronger local economies that use less energy, rely less on imported materials, and are more resilient to global market changes. The projects funded by these grants will help build more sustainable and resilient North Carolina communities.”

For the second year in a row, DEQ gave priority to projects that improve North Carolina’s capacity to domestically process and use mixed paper and non-bottle plastics. Beginning in 2018, China stopped importing these materials which has led to adjustments in the global marketplace. By prioritizing projects that strengthen local markets, DEQ is working to keep valuable materials in-state and decrease reliance on foreign buyers.

The recycling business grantees are from 16 counties, representing both large and small companies. Types of grant projects awarded include:

• Expanding plastic processing capacity: Seven companies will increase the quantities and types of recyclable plastic they are able to process, including PVC, colored HDPE, and post-industrial plastic by installing new shredding, sorting and screening equipment.
• Upgrading material recovery facilities to increase processing capacity: Two companies will add equipment to better manage incoming volume and effectively sort plastics into higher value grades.
• Building recycled end-product manufacturing capacity: One company will manufacture new products using recycled rubber and plastic.
• Increasing shipping efficiency of recyclable materials: Three companies will increase shipping efficiency of recycled materials by upfitting an abandoned rail spur and purchasing trailers for improved transportation.
• Expanding domestic processing of other materials: Two companies will expand food waste processing and improve end-product compost quality by installing new technology. One company will improve material identification to expand carpet recycling, and one company will increase collection of construction and demolition debris for recycling.

Grants are offered each year, depending on funding availability, to reduce the flow of solid waste into landfills and strengthen the state’s recycling economy. Recipients are required to provide a minimum cash match of 50 percent of the grant award; however, the level of private investment in 2019 is expected to more than double the total grant funding. The combination of grant and private dollars will result in a more than $1.8 million investment in the state’s recycling infrastructure while supporting the local economy.

The Recycling Business Assistance Center (RBAC) in DEQ’s Division of Environmental Assistance and Customer Service works one-on-one with recycling companies to provide technical, business and financial assistance. Throughout the past five years, RBAC has awarded more than $2.9 million in grant funding to 78 recycling companies statewide. The program has led to more than $7.7 million in private investment, created more than 230 new, full-time jobs and diverted an average of an additional 159,000 tons of materials each year from landfill disposal.

A full list of the 17 business recipients and descriptions of the projects can be found below or at: https://deq.nc.gov/conservation/recycling/programs-offered/grants-recycling-businesses/2019-grant-winners. For information about the grant program, go to: https://deq.nc.gov/conservation/recycling-business-assistance/financing/grants.

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