[ADEQ Media] ADEQ Approves Revision to Verde Earthworks Waste Reduction Grant to Allow for Production of Compost

[media@lists.azdeq.gov]

ADEQ Approves Revision to Verde Earthworks Waste Reduction Grant to
Allow for Production of Compost 

PHOENIX (March 19, 2009) - The Arizona Department of Environmental
Quality has approved a revised grant to allow a Verde Valley recycling
company near Camp Verde in Yavapai County to produce compost from
cardboard and green waste after the recent sudden decline of prices in
traditional recycling markets. 

Verde Earthworks LLC received a $319,112 Waste Reduction Assistance
program grant last year to establish a new materials recovery facility,
an area where recyclables are processed, in the Verde Valley, near
Interstate 17 in the community of Rimrock. 

But shortly after Verde Earthworks received the grant in June, the
bottom fell out of prices for recyclables. Cardboard, which had been
$140 a ton last August, has fallen recently in price to as little as $20
a ton.

The grant revision permits Verde Earthworks to scale down the size of
the proposed 4,000-square-foot materials recovery building and allow the
purchase of commercial composting equipment to provide the compost for
local use. Grants funded by ADEQ's Waste Reduction Assistance program
can be used for waste reduction, recycling and composting. 

"Establishing a composting facility will provide a local market for the
cardboard which will be composted along with green waste from local
businesses," said ADEQ Acting Director Patrick J. Cunningham. "This is a
win-win situation for the Verde Valley. Offering compost will provide an
alternative to the cost of storing cardboard and will help prevent the
material from ending up in the landfill."

The materials recovery facility is scheduled to start producing compost
in May and it is expected to be available to the public in July. In
addition to cardboard, the compost will be made from grass, brush and
tree clippings; horse manure; culled produce from grocery stores; and
construction debris.   

For more information, visit www.verdeearthworks.com or call (928)
284-3778.

-30-

News media interested in additional information on this or any other
topic concerning the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality should
contact the Office of Communications at (602) 771-2215 or via email at
communications@azdeq.gov.

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