Eligibility and Allocation of Funds

Eligibility and Allocation of Funds. A. In accordance with Mississippi Code Annotated Section 17-17-63, ten percent (10%) of the amount of funds available in the Mississippi Nonhazardous Corrective Action Trust Fund shall be set aside in the Recycling Cooperative Grant Fund on July 1 of each State Fiscal Year. The funds will be used by the Mississippi Commission on Environmental Quality (Commission) to provide grants to regional recycling cooperative organizations formed by counties, municipalities, regional solid waste management authorities, or other multi-county/city entities for the purpose of jointly participating in the collection, processing and marketing of recyclables. Such grants for purposes of these regulations shall be herein referred to as “recycling cooperative grants.” B. Any funds remaining in the Recycling Cooperative Grant Fund at the end of the State Fiscal Year that have not been awarded shall be deposited back into the Recycling Cooperative Grant Fund for award in the next fiscal year, unless the Recycling Cooperative Grant Fund has expired as described in Miss. Code Ann. Section 17-17-63. C. Recycling cooperative grant awards shall only be made to cooperative organizations formed by local government entities to conduct recycling efforts in conjunction with achieving the state waste reduction goal of 25%. Recycling cooperative grants shall not be awarded for activities or appurtenances associated with the management of materials or wastes where that activity is not considered recycling as defined in Mississippi Code Annotated Section 49-31-9 (i). D. No recycling cooperative grant shall be awarded for a program or activity that is inconsistent with the approved solid waste management plan of the local government jurisdiction(s). E. Recycling cooperative grants may be used to defray the following recycling program costs: (1) Designing and developing a local or regional community recycling system; (2) Construction of structures or appurtenances associated with an approved local community recycling system; (3) Transportation activities or equipment associated with the collection and/or transport of recyclable materials to processors or markets; (4) Processing activities or equipment associated with an approved local community recycling system; (5) Integral personnel costs for the implementation of a local community recycling system; (6) Grant Administrative costs (not to exceed 3% of the total budget); (7) Public information and outreach costs; and (8) Other miscellaneous costs deemed integral and appropriate for the success of the recycling program as approved by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ).