Kent accepts $169,654 Department of Ecology grant to fund recycling events and encampment cleanup

Tony Donati, conservation coordinator in the Public Works Department, asked the council Committee of the Whole on June 17 to accept a two-year Local Solid Waste Financial Assistance grant from the Washington State Department of Ecology. Donati said the grant runs July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2027 and provides $169,654 on a cost-reimbursable basis; the city will provide a 25% match from other solid-waste grants, the drainage utility fund and project-specific funds. Staff time to manage the grant is funded by utility funds, Donati said.

Donati described uses: funding the city's spring and fall recycling collection events (including Saturday large-item events and Friday mini-events) that keep hard-to-recycle materials out of the landfill and make drop-off free to residents; supporting encampment debris cleanup on city-owned drainage and street right-of-way; and covering staff costs to administer the work. He said a recent Canyon Ridge Middle School event handled 34 cars and about 1.11 tons of material (as reported in the presentation) and that the program sells rain barrels and compost bins at events.

Council moved and seconded acceptance of the grant, authorized amending the budget and authorizing the mayor to sign the agreement subject to final terms acceptable to the public works director and city attorney. Council voted in favor and the motion carried.