(New York, N.Y.) The E.P.A. has provided $365,000 to the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC) to fund local plans that will prevent plastic trash polluting water bodies in New Jersey and New York. Plans may include a variety of plastic trash prevention solutions, including those that: implement source reduction and demonstrate prevention of trash from entering water bodies. Plans that are replicable and focus on upstream plastic trash prevention, and Plans that benefit low-income communities near waterbodies will be prioritized. The deadline for applying through NEIWPCC is May 10, 2016.
"Our oceans and lakes and rivers are being choked with plastic debris," said E.P.A. Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck. "Estimates are that by 2025 there will be one ton of plastic for every three tons of fish in the world's oceans. This backing will help jumpstart real solutions that will reduce plastic waste at the source."
Aquatic plastic pollution is getting worse every year. It is estimated that over eight million metric tons of plastic pollution enter the world's oceans annually. By 2025, this amount is expected to in excess of double. A recent study by NY/NJ Baykeeper showed that at least 165 million plastic particles are floating in the New York-New Jersey Harbor Estuary at any given time.
The E.P.A. backing is being awarded through a competitive grant process run by New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission will help stimulate creative, common sense solutions to the burgeoning problem of plastics in lakes, streams, harbors and oceans. Academic and educational institutions, local governments, and non-profit organizations are all eligible to apply for the funding. Backing requests should be a minimum of $45,000. To view the request for proposals and to apply, visit
http://neiwpcc.org/contractors/opportunities.asp or contact Dan Peckham at 978-349-2512,
[email protected].
This $365,000 in Backing is being provided through the EPA's New York/New Jersey Aquatic Trash Prevention Grant Program, which is designed to fund Plans that help meet the goals of the EPA's Trash Free Waters program. This grant plan is focused on Plans that will support the Trash Free Waters initiative's goal of reducing the volume of plastic trash entering fresh and marine water environments, approaching zero-loading of trash into U.S. waters within ten years.
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http://twitter.com/eparegion2 and Facebook at
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