The chairman of the Rush Township supervisors said residents have been asking about a Department of Environmental Protection grant the township received for a proposed organic materials recycling center.

As a result, George Gerhard had a breakdown of the grant and project’s cost at last week’s monthly meeting for anyone seeking more information.

In 2023, DEP awarded the township a $350,000 grant. The funds, which are a Recycling Program Development and Implementation Grant, or 902 Grant, are for developing and implementing recycling programs.

Gerhard said the 54 Progress Ave. facility, which will include a tub grinder, will cost about $716,000.

“That’s with the grant that was already received and there is no other grant at this point,” Gerhard said.

Former supervisor Robert Leibensperger said the township can still apply for another grant for the grinder, which tackles large branches and stumps.

“We already asked DEP about that but the answer we got was that currently there are no grants available, and they may be opening, they may,” Gerhard said.

“When they do, it’s simply just reapplying,” Leibensperger said. “They’ll pay the remainder of that grant.”

Gerhard said he hoped DEP would approve additional funding.

Leibensperger said he believed it would happen.

“They will because it was listed under that when I was doing the grant and actually sat down with the correspondence between the two people from DEP and myself,” Leibensperger said.

“Right,” Gerhard said, “but if they don’t?”

“They will,” Leibensperger said.

Leibensperger said DEP is very “straightforward and honorable” in what it does.

“Rush Township is considered a flagship of recycling, and that’s why they want to continue to do it,” Leibensperger said of DEP.

“Let’s hope they do,” Gerhard responded.

Gerhard said the township has a bank loan for the tub grinder. It must refinance the amount in July if the DEP grant isn’t received.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, a resident asked for an update on the recycling facility.

“We can’t do anything until DEP allows us to do stuff at the site,” Gerhard said. “Right now there’s just a hold on it.”

William McMullen, township engineer from ARRO Consulting, added that testing needs to be done – but because the ground is frozen, it will have to wait.