This agreement provides funding from the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA)

The Northeast Resource Recovery Association (NERRA) was awarded a $465,814 Project Grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Reduce, Reuse, Recycling Education and Outreach (REO) Grants program. The purpose of this 36-month award, effective May 1, 2024, is to enhance NERRA's efforts to increase residential recycling rates, reduce recycling contamination, and promote sustainable waste management practices in 30 rural communities in New Hampshire's North Country region.

Key activities to be delivered under this grant include: 1) Resident outreach through town-specific mailings, media campaigns, and educational signage; 2) Training programs for solid waste operators, including a recycling conference, operator roundtables, and site visits; 3) In-person recycling education presentations and rewards for residents and visitors; and 4) Hosting a one-day Recycle Right Summit to engage both community members and waste management professionals. The project aims to drive long-term, sustained change in recycling behaviors and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by diverting waste from landfills in the target rural communities.

EPA's consumer recycling education and outreach (REO) grant program will fund a range of projects that will increase waste prevention activities, increase the collection of recyclable materials and program participation rates, and decrease contamination of the recycling stream, fund projects that focus on commonly recycled materials such as municipal solid waste (e.g., plastics, aluminum, paper, glass, etc.), including food waste and organics, and/or fund projects and provide tools and technical assistance that will lead to long-term, sustained change, benefits, and support beyond the life of the grant. The purpose of this award is to enhance the northeast resource recovery association (nerra) efforts to meet the REO grants elements. Specifically, nerra will increase residential recycling rates and recycling participation and decrease recycling contamination rates for thirty rural communities in new hampshire's (NH) north country by providing education to both residents and solid waste operators about residential and community recycling programs, including information about recycled materials that are accepted as part of these programs. The project will focus on recycling the following materials: cardboard, paper, glass, plastic, aluminum cans, and steel cans. With a focused preparation period, campaign materials will be designed specifically for the unique needs and attributes of north country communities. Follow up data and a final report will show the efficacy of a multi-faceted and targeted campaign. Activities: the goal of the recycle right north country project is to increase residential recycling rates and recycling participation, and decrease recycling contamination rates in the north country by providing education to residents, visitors, and solid waste operators about residential and community recycling programs, including information about commonly recycled materials that are accepted as part of these programs. This will be accomplished through a nine-month recycle right north country campaign consisting of the following four objectives: a) resident outreach; b) train the trainers; c) in-person education; d) recycle right summit. For objective 1 resident outreach, nerra will connect with residents and visitors across the north country with three town-specific mailings to include a recycling pamphlet, postcard, and magnet; newspaper and newsletter articles; print, radio, and social media advertising about recycling; videos following partner community recycling from resident drop-off to end market; and improved facility signage to increase consumer understanding of acceptable recyclable materials. For objective 2: train the trainers, nerra will conduct a dynamic training program for solid waste operators comprised of stipend attendance to the nrra annual recycling conference and expo; solid waste operator roundtable trainings; development of an online EIR generator; and two bus tours in the north country. For objective 3 in-person education, nerra will deliver in-person recycling education to residents and visitors by providing recycling 101 presentations to any group of 15 people or more within the north country and conduct on-site recycle right education to residents and visitors at north country transfer stations, including recycle right rewards for those who are recycling right. Finally, nerra will host a one-day recycle right summit in the north country designed to bring together residents and solid waste operators to present in-person recycle right north country campaign materials, including community-specific videos on recycling, and workshops including: recycling 101 presentation, ask me anything: recycling, how full cost accounting can help your town to recycle right, and a solid waste operator roundtable. Subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:the anticipate