New Bedford Receives $66,000 Recycling Grant

New Bedford is cashing in thanks to the city's recycling program.

Mayor Jon Mitchell's Office announced on Wednesday that New Bedford will receive $66,000 as part of a Massachusetts Sustainable Materials Recovery Program (SMRP) grant.

The award is being given due to programs and policies enacted by the city that have lead to an increase in recycling and reduction the amount of waste that is sent to the Crapo Hill Landfill.

Communities that are grant recipients are required to reinvest the funds in their recycling programs for things such as new recycling bins or carts, public education and outreach campaigns, collection of hard-to-recycle items and the establishment of recycling programs in schools, municipal buildings and other public spaces.

New Bedford began automated curbside collection system for trash and recyclables in late June of 2014 and city officials say that in the first year of the program the recycling rate was doubled and there was a 30 percent reduction in the amount of waste sent to the Crapo Hill Landfill.

Citywide recycling has increased an estimated 13 percent with city officials saying 875 more tons of material was recycled and kept out of the landfill.

Mayor Mitchell's office says this year's grant will be used, under the Department of Facilities and Fleet Management, to further extend and support the outreach work of its Waste Reduction Enforcement Coordinator.

The grant program is run by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and New Bedford was one of four municipalities in Massachusetts to receive a grant award in excess of $50,000.