TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — The Cherokee Nation has secured a $1.4 million grant to improve its landfill.
According to a release from the Cherokee Nation, the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling grant was awarded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and will allow for the improvement of its recycling and waste management systems at the Cherokee Nation Sanitary Landfill in Stilwell.
“We recognize how vital it is to make recycling investments into our Cherokee communities. With the assistance from the EPA via the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling grant, we have the opportunity to make important improvements to our recycling infrastructure and pollution prevention at the Cherokee Nation Sanitary Landfill,” Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said.
The Cherokee Nation was one of five tribes in Oklahoma to receive the grant. A total of 59 grantees received a total of over $60 million through the program, while 25 other grantees received over $33 million in recycling education and outreach grants, the release said.
The tribe says that it already has plans for how to use the money.
"The Cherokee Nation will use the grant to develop and implement infrastructure and capacity to divert brush, miscellaneous vegetation and wood wastes from the landfill and subsequently recycle the material for beneficial uses," the release said.
The release adds that the projects are designed to reduce pollution hazards such as landfill contamination, greenhouse gas emissions, and soil erosion into water.
Watch 5NEWS on YouTube.
Download the 5NEWS app on your smartphone:
Stream 5NEWS 24/7 on the 5+ app: How to watch the 5+ app on your streaming device
To report a typo or grammatical error, please email KFSMDigitalTeam@tegna.com and detail which story you're referring to.