Delaware County Earns Nearly $5 Million Grant to Create Countywide Composting Facility and Permanent Household Hazardous Waste Facility
Media, PA — Delaware County recently earned a Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) Grant from the United States Environmental Protection Agency worth nearly $5 million, which will allow them to enhance recycling and diversion of solid waste in the county.
The grant will support the creation of a countywide composting facility and recycling drop off center in Chester Township and a permanent Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection facility in Marple Township. Funding will cover site development and equipment purchases for these sites along with compost collection and community education in Chester Township for the first few years.
This project represents a multi-year partnership between the Delaware County Office of Sustainability, the Delaware County Solid Waste Authority (DCSWA), and the Delaware County Public Works Department. This will transform the capabilities of the Solid Waste Authority, allowing them to provide services for the next generation of residents and expand their current capabilities.
“This is a really meaningful grant that will dedicate a lot of money to an important program,” said Delaware County Council member Elaine Paul Schaefer. “This is the type of investment that is going to change behavior and save money across our county, so I’d like to thank our Department of Sustainability and the Solid Waste Authority for their hard work in securing it.”
This project, which will be completed by the end of 2028, is expected to improve air quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and divert 12,130 tons of organic waste, recycling, and household hazardous waste away from landfills or incinerators per year.
The countywide composting facility, which will be located at DCSWA’s Transfer Station #1 on Concord Road in Chester Township, will provide additional capacity for organics processing, utilizing aerated static pile technology, which serves to reduce emissions and odors. Yard and food waste will be collected and processed at the site. Businesses, municipalities, residents, and organizations will be encouraged to bring their materials to this site for processing at a reduced tipping fee. This facility will provide Delco residents with new, cost-effective alternatives for diverting an estimated 12,000 tons of organic waste per year, which is the heaviest and most expensive to dispose of in landfills and incinerators.
Also at this location will be a recycling drop off center, which is expected to see an additional 31.94 tons of recycling processed per year. This center will offer new resources for residents that do not currently have access to curbside collection services.
The new household hazardous waste facility will be located at DCWSA’s Transfer Station #3 on Sussex Boulevard in Marple Township. The creation of a permanent HHW facility will be critical to protecting Delco’s environment and keeping residents safe by preventing hazardous chemicals from entering landfills, waterways, or the atmosphere. This new facility is expected to process 97.77 tons of hazardous waste per year, a 25% increase from current levels.
“We would like to issue a huge thank you to the EPA for funding these projects, as they not only support Zero Waste initiatives and goals outlined in the County’s Sustainability Plan, but also serve to increase accessibility to diversion services in our community,” said Delaware County Sustainability Officer Becca Yurkovich. “We look forward to partnering with our neighboring departments, the Delaware County Solid Waste Authority, and our dedicated community members over the next few years to deliver these projects.”
The implementation of this grant will include robust community engagement and outreach to spread the word about the importance of Zero Waste and inform residents of the new services available to them. Residents of Chester Township will also get approximately three years of free community composting services to build pride around the new facilities and serve as a thank you for being the host community.
This project represents an important partnership between Delaware County, the DCSWA, and municipalities across the county, providing municipalities with the resources they need to grow and expand their current capabilities.
To learn more about the Delaware County Department of Sustainability, visit delcopa.gov/sustainability. To learn more about the Delaware County Solid Waste Authority, visit www.delcoswa.org.