JAY – State planners awarded a $42,250 grant that the town will match to construct a building for recyclable waste. The town was one of 40 competing for a total of $600,000.

Rhonda Irish, supervisor of Jay’s recycling and transfer station, told selectmen Monday the state had awarded the town $42,250 of the $51,000 she requested.

The recycling/universal waste expansion will help the town comply with universal waste rules, Town Manager Ruth Marden said.

Fluorescent light bulbs and computer monitors are some items considered as so-called universal waste that need to be recycled to meet a change in state law.

The town has already saved more than the $42,000 to cover its share of the 50/50 match, Marden said.

The Maine Waste Management and Recycling Program in the State Planning Office had $600,000 in recycling capital investment grants available. There were 40 applications asking for a total of more than $1 million. The office was able to provide funding to 33 applications.

The state’s share of Jay’s approved project costs break down as follows:

• Site work: $3,500.

• Concrete work: $9,250.

• Building: $25,000.

• Universal waste infrastructure: $3,500.

• Education: $1,000.

Selectmen’s Chairman Bill Harlow commended Irish on her success in getting the grant. Selectman Barry McDonald agreed to serve as a liaison between the board and the recycling and transfer station for updates on the project.

dperry@sunjournal.com