Grant money will help clean 62 illegal dumps in Ky.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (KT) - The Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet on Thursday announced the awarding of approximately $534,000 in grants for the cleanup of 62 illegal dumps in 14 counties across the state.

The grant funding is used to clean sites where household solid waste items such as couches, tires, coolers and bedding have been illegally dumped. Not only are these dumps eyesores, but they can be a health hazard due to exposed debris and vermin. Once cleaned, those sites can offer locations for revenue-producing businesses.

The grants will be used in the following counties, with the number of sites in parentheses if it is more than one: Butler (4), Calloway, Carlisle, Christian (2), Hart (3), Hopkins, Johnson (4), Lawrence (4), Logan, Metcalfe, Pike (10), Scott, Warren and Wolfe (28).

As part of the grant funding, counties must agree to provide a 25 percent match of the grant amount. The EEC may waive the 25 percent match on any individual illegal open dump where cleanup costs exceed $50,000.

"This grant has funded the cleanups for close to 2,700 dump sites across the state since its creation in 2006," said Energy and Environment Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Goodman. "I am encouraged that these communities have taken action through this wonderful program."

Grants for the Illegal Open Dump Grant Program come from the Kentucky Pride Fund, which is generated through a $1.75 environmental remediation fee for each ton of garbage dumped at Kentucky municipal solid waste landfills. This "tipping fee" was first authorized by the 2002 General Assembly, for use in a dump cleanup reimbursement program, and for the remediation of historic landfills. Then in 2006, new legislation changed the reimbursement program to a grant program and expanded the scope of the fund to address household hazardous waste collection and recycling infrastructure.

Kentucky has made significant progress in addressing the illegal dump issue thanks to this funding, along with statewide cleanup and educational campaigns by local, state and federal agencies.