The Alabama Department of Environmental Management recently announced the City of Selma as one of 20 recipients who’ve received a portion of more than $2 million in recycling grants for 2011.

The agency awarded Selma $87,000 in grant money to help provide environmental and economic benefits across Alabama and enhance recycling opportunities for citizens.

Made possible through the Solid Wastes & Recyclable Materials Management Act passed by the Alabama Legislature in 2008, the grants support the purchase of such recycling equipment as balers, compactors, recycling trailers, recycling bins, collection trucks and roll-off containers to make recycling easier for Alabama citizens.

The grant also supports outreach and educational efforts to encourage the public to recycle.

“The ability to enhance recycling in Alabama is a significant accomplishment,” ADEM director Lance LeFleur said. “Recycling provides environmental and economic benefits which are both important to our citizens. I am pleased that ADEM can provide these grant funds and work with local officials to enhance their recycling efforts.”

ADEM’s recycling grants provide both economic and environmental benefits across Alabama. Alabama has more than 25 recycling manufacturers that employ more than 10,000 workers and rely heavily on the use of recycling materials in their production processes.

ADEM has issued nearly $5 million in grant funds in the past three years to support the purchase of infrastructure and equipment for recycling. The grants can also be utilized to initiate new recycling programs or enhance existing recycling programs at the local level.