Take Earth Day Action: Call your state senator by 4pm!

Thank you to everyone who called, and many thanks to our Missouri State Senators who supported Solid Waste Management District Funding. Yesterday we received word that funding that has already been granted and allocated for 2013-2014 is safe.

We can’t stress enough how thankful we are for the work of those senators who advocated on our behalf and, of course, those who called and emailed in their opinions on the proposed cut.

PLEASE NOTE that Senator Schaefer is still trying very hard to decrease or dissolve SWMD funding from landfill tipping fees. We will continue to keep your posted as this develops.

Today is officially Earth Day (04/22), and Missouri’s environment needs you now more than ever.

This afternoon the MO Senate Appropriations Committee will present their amended appropriation bill, HB 6. The committee has proposed to eliminate funding for all of Missouri’s 20 Solid Waste Management Districts – including the St. Louis-Jefferson SWMD that supports St. Louis Earth Day’s Recycling On The Go and Green Dining Alliance programs.

The money for this appropriation is not part of General Revenue and is not a tax – it is a fee on solid waste disposed in landfills. This fee will still be collected but not allowed to support the statewide recycling grant program. The impact of this amendment to our programs and our many partners in the City of St. Louis, St. Louis County, Jefferson County and St. Charles County is significant.

Statewide, this abrupt line-item elimination will cripple operations of Missouri-based businesses, local governments and non-profits, negatively impacting over 15,000 jobs in the St. Louis region alone, and over 25,000 revenue-generating jobs statewide – including the operations of St. Louis Earth Day and our community partners!

I opposed the proposed cut to all Solid Waste Management District Funding as it destroys a successful grant program, and hinders the significant waste diversion work completed by SWMD grantees.

SWMD funding:

• encourages the responsible and economical use of resources
• provides a funding source outside of general revenue & isn’t a tax
• impacts 15,000 jobs in the St. Louis region alone, and over 25,000 revenue-generating jobs statewide

I encourage you to oppose the elimination of funding to SWMD, and instead, support a successful program that keeps Missouri moving forward.