Everybody knows recycling is good for Mother Earth. But, did you know it’s also good for keeping Horsham Township taxes down?

For every ton of newspaper, cardboard, yogurt containers and more that Horsham residents and business owners recycle, the township can receive $5 in state grants, according to consultant Tom Hough of King of Prussia-based Hough Associates. 

“It’s a three-part formula really based on population,” Hough said. “The more the residents recycle the more the municipality’s going to receive.”

Horsham has used Hough Associate’s recycling data collection services since 1999.  Besides Horsham, Hough said his company provides recycling data collection services to about 60 other municipalities in Pennsylvania. Last week the Horsham Township Council approved hiring the consultants at a rate of $15,000 to gather the township’s 2010 residential and commercial recycling data and prepare a state grant application.

Township Manager Bill Walker said it’s money well-spent.

“We usually bring in anywhere from $115,000 to $145,000,” Walker said. “We educate the residents and the businesses to recycle. We get a check from the state for how good we do.”

Grants are considered “unrestricted monies” and added to the general fund with the goal of keeping municipal taxes down, Walker said.

For 2009, the last year data is available the township recycled 6,200 tons collectively, according to Hough. Of that amount, 4,100 tons came from the commercial sector and 2,100 tons was derived from residential recycling collection. Hough applied for a state Department of Environmental Protection Recycling Performance Grant in the amount $123,523 for 2009. 

“Sometime this calendar year we will get our 2009 grant monies,” Walker said.

 Not sure what can and can’t be recycled? Click here to learn more.