Green Youngstown gets $41,225 Ohio EPA grant

Staff report

Youngstown

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency awarded a Litter Collection and Prevention Grant for $41,225 to Green Youngstown to be used for projects. They are:

Cleanup and recycling: $11,000 will be used to continue and expand the citywide cleanups and recycling drives throughout the year. Two tire amnesty drives will be paid for through $15,000 in grant funds to allow residents and community groups in Mahoning County to bring tires for disposal and recycling.

Tool lending program: $15,000 will be used to expand the small tool-lending program developed in 2011. Two years ago, Green Youngstown started a tool-lending program to assist groups in beautification projects. Weed-whackers, lawn mowers, rakes, shovels, litter pickers, etc., were available to be “checked out” by groups wanting to clean up litter, plant a community garden or mow empty lots. The grant money will be used to buy an enclosed trailer and fill it with all the tools and supplies necessary to host a cleanup and/or beautification event in the city.

Contest: Green Youngstown is looking for a name for its new tool trailer. “Community Improvement Trailer just doesn’t convey the excitement we have for this new program,” said Jennifer Jones, program coordinator. Ideas can be submitted at the Green Youngstown Facebook page, emailed to recycle@cityofyoungstownoh.com or called in to 330- 744-7526.

Green Youngstown, a division of the Department of Public Works, was established through cooperation between Mahoning County Solid Waste Management District and the City of Youngstown. The mission is to educate and encourage the community to improve environments through waste reduction, recycling, beautification efforts, and reducing and eliminating blight and litter.