FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 29, 2021

MEDIA CONTACTS

Tanisha Jumper, Media and Communications, tjumper@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-5152

Stacy Ellifritt, Media and Communications, stacy.ellifritt@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-2005

Tacoma Awarded Grant to Help Improve Environmental Health and Sustainability

The United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) and their partner the American Beverage Foundation for A Healthy America (ABFHA), have selected Tacoma as the first place winner of the 2021 Childhood Obesity Prevention/Environmental Health and Sustainability Grants Award in the Medium City category. The City of Tacoma’s Solid Waste Management will be awarded a grant for $175,000 to improve environmental health and sustainability.

“The City of Tacoma remains committed to improving the overall health of our community, and this grant funding will help support the work we are doing to ensure that community members have equitable access to information and other resources that they need," said Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards.

The City’s Recycle Reset Project focuses on educating residential customers (single-family home and duplex residents) on the nuances of the recycling industry, how international policy changes impact the local program, how to recycle right in Tacoma, and assistance with developing an action plan to talk with their family, friends, and neighbors. Through partnerships with community organizations, staff is able to offer this training in six languages (English, Spanish, Korean, Khmer, Vietnamese, and Russian) to increase outreach and access to proper recycling information.

Through funding from the USCM, Recycle Reset Project staff can expand this program and offer training for multifamily residents and residents that are interested in how to properly use the City's food and yard waste program, as well as food waste reduction techniques. Through partnerships with community organizations such as Asia Pacific Cultural Center, Pierce Conservation District, Safe Streets, and VT Radio Universal, staff will be able to offer these additional trainings in six languages.

For more information on these programs, visit cityoftacoma.org/solidwaste or contact Solid Waste Management at (253) 502-2100.

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