BRIAN BALSMAN, Southeast Missouri District Solid Waste Planner

What is your job description?

Attend meetings, answer questions on solid waste, research.

How long have you been doing this job?

I have been assigned the Solid Waste Management District for the last four years.

What is your education/experience in this field?

College graduate.

Of what regions or counties are you in charge?

Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Madison, Iron, Perry, Ste. Genevieve and St. Francois.

How many of those counties are recycling?

All of them.

What are the other counties around us doing in recycling compared to us?

Basically, most counties are comparable with one another.

Could you explain the grant process for us?

A grant application is completed. The Proposal Review Committee for the SWMD meets and ranks each application. Recommendations are made to the Board of the SWMD. After approval of the Board, the application is sent to the Department of Natural Resources for approval. When the SWMD receives the approval and funds, the projects may begin.

When an organization writes a grant, what is the percentage of grant money they can usually receive?

Depends on how much funding is available

Could you tell us what types of organizations have written grants?

Recycling centers, counties, cities.

How much grant money is available for the Southeast District?

Approximately $40,000 every quarter. 50% is used for cities and counties and 50% is used for district plan implementation.

View a recycling grant application