Ozark Rivers District awards $183,000 in grants

The Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District awarded 11 grants, totaling $183,645, during its quarterly meeting Sept. 22, Chairman Scott Murrell announced. Thirteen grant requests, totaling some $211,980, were submitted.

           All 11 projects were fully funded. They included:

·     A request from Maries County to continue its Clean Roads and Waterways program, $6,357;

·     A request from University of Missouri Extension for a food waste to fertilizer project, $10,000;

·     A request from Meramec Regional Planning Commission to continue funding for the satellite household hazardous waste collection centers, located in Rolla and St. Robert and initiated by the solid waste district, $22,448.70;

·     A request from MRPC for matching funds for a USDA education grant and to continue the illegal dump cleanup program started by ORSWMD, $49,911.30,

·     A request from the Phelps County Commission to continue the Phelps County Tough on Trash program, $15,664.71;

·     A request from MRPC to continue the solid waste district’s electronics, tires and appliances’ collections, $33,500.60;

·     A request from MRPC to continue its illegally dumped tire program for the ORSWMD seven-county area, $14,000;

·     A request from MRPC to create a website for the Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District, $12,763.10;

·     A request from Jack Kaufmann of In-The-Green Productions to do environmental education in the district’s schools, $6,000;

·     A request from the city of Rolla to purchase a recycling mascot, $5,000; and

·     A request from Phyto Forensics, LLC, for the purchase of recycling bins for Missouri University of Science and Technology, $8,000



Two projects were not funded. MRPC submitted a grant request of $4,544.95 to continue its environmental educator project, however, another firm bid the same project, and the board awarded the project to Jack Kaufmann. Another project submitted by Project Eco Management did not score high enough to be considered for funding.

           Like last year, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources changed grant procedures and the solid waste district itself was not eligible to apply for funding for the programs it offers. To continue the district’s projects, MRPC applied for the funding.

           “The programs will be staffed as they have been and operated in the same fashion,” Murrell explained, “However to maintain the programs, MRPC has to be the applicant.”

           The Ozark Rivers District is presenting the recommended projects to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources for review. Once the DNR approves the projects and financial assistance agreements are in place, projects can begin and grant funds released. The tentative date for projects to begin is Jan. 1, 2010.

           Ozark Rivers receives a base of $95,000 per year from the Missouri DNR to award as grants for local solid waste management projects. The funds are generated from tipping fees collected at landfills and transfer stations across the state. The district also receives a percentage of the tipping fees, based on population and the amount of trash actually landfilled in the region.

The two operational landfills in the region are Prairie Valley near Cuba in Crawford County and Timber Ridge Landfill near Richwoods in Washington County. A total of $268,093 was received this funding cycle.

The district added nearly $24,355 to the grants fund, using past year’s left over grant funds and bank interest. The district set aside $108,802 for district operations, leaving nearly $183,646 for district grants. The district solicits grant proposals annually.

           The Ozark Rivers District includes Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties and their respective cities with populations of 500 or more. The district is charged with reducing by 40 percent the amount of waste generated for disposal.

MRPC, a voluntary council of governments, provides staffing and administrative services for Ozark Rivers. Persons needing more information on solid waste issues may contact Tammy Snodgrass, district administrator, at (573) 265-2993 or by email at tsnodgrass@meramecregion.org.