The Sherburne County Board approved the SCORE budget for 2017 at last week’s meeting.

 

SCORE (Select Committee on Recycling and Environment) is a state funding source for counties to develop waste reduction, recycling and solid waste management programs.

 

The county received $271,438 in SCORE money from the state for 2017. The county is also required to provide a 25% match, and there is a carryover of $161,829 from 2016. 

 

The Sherburne County Solid Waste Advisory Committee recommends awarding those funds to cities, townships and civic groups for their programs. 

 

 This year’s SCORE expenditures include $116,121 in grants for cleanup day events in cities and townships.

 

Another $115,000 is allocated for public yard waste sites in Becker ($26,000), Big Lake ($26,000), Elk River ($37,000) and Zimmerman ($26,000). Any county resident can utilize any of the sites to dropoff yard waste at no cost by obtaining a free access card. Commercial lawn care companies may purchase a season pass for $200.

 

The SCORE budget will allocate $80,000 for 10 mobile household hazardous waste events throughout the county. Last year, 1,022 households participated in the events.

 

Stearns County Household Hazardous Waste Facility in Waite Park will receive $25,000. Sherburne County has a three-year agreement with Stearns County allowing its residents to drop off hazardous waste there through the end of 2017. In 2016, 806 county residents used the site.

 

The Environmental Educator will receive $25,000. The newsletter provides information about recycling and waste management. The publication is distributed to over 32,000 homes in the county.

 

Other programs to be funded in 2017 include:

 

• Battery recycling program at 16 sites within the county ($6,345);

 

• Zimmerman/Princeton Girl Scout Troop 578 paper and cardboard recycling events ($6,300);

 

• Becker Boy Scout Troop 92 paper and cardboard recycling events ($6,160);

 

• Pharmaceutical collection and disposal program ($5,000);

 

• Grass clipping and leaf drop event near Briggs Lake Chain for all residents ($4,000).

 

The board also approved keeping $119,550.55 in reserve funds to use as grants for other proposed projects or for cost overruns on projects already being funded.