Rapid City is the recipient of a $4,977,265 Solid 91²Ö¿â Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) grant, according to a recent announcement from the EPA. The city plans to use the nearly $5 million in funding to expand its commercial recycling services, update equipment, and enhance remote drop-off facilities. The upgrades are expected to double recycling rates and improve the quality of materials collected.
Daniel Ainslie is the Finance Director for Rapid City. He says obtaining the grant was a joint effort between the city’s Public Works Department and Grants Division. “It was really meant to try to secure some additional funding so that we can be more efficient in our recycling and diversion programs that we’re offering,” said Ainslie.
“The grant does provide funding for some enhancements to remote drop-off facilities, where people can drop off recycled materials as well as yard waste and other things like that. And then also some additional equipment that would be available at our Material Recovery Facility. And additional labor costs so that we can try to increase the total amount of recycled or diverted materials that we’re processing right now.”