November—December 2019 Newsletter

America Recycles Week

To mark the 2019 commemoration of America Recycles Week, November 10-17, EPA’s Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Mike Stoker visited a Southern California Tribe and two businesses to celebrate their accomplishments in landfill diversion, plastic recycling, and reducing food waste.

• Santa Ynez Valley News: Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Recognized by EPA for Zero Waste, Recycling
• Recycling Road Trip (video)
• America Recycles

Reducing Diesel Emissions

EPA awarded millions of dollars in Diesel Emissions Reduction Act grants to Tribal, public and private partners in California, Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii and the Pacific Islands. The grants will be combined with matching funds to retrofit and replace old, polluting diesel vehicles and equipment, including school buses, fire engines, heavy-duty trucks, tractors, and port and construction equipment. There is now a new Request for Applications open for grants to be awarded in 2020.

• Big Island Now: Hawaii Awarded Grant Money to Reduce Diesel Emissions
• KTAR News: Phoenix Gets $1M Federal Grant to Buy Low-emissions Garbage Trucks
• West Coast Collaborative: 2020 Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) Request for Applications

Job Training for Redevelopment

EPA’s Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training program provided $200,000 to the Pittsburg Power Company's Future Build program in California. The funds will be used to train unemployed and underemployed Contra Costa County residents in construction, building trades, solar installation and hazardous waste removal.

• The East Bay 100: EPA Awards Future Build $200,000
• Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training Program