Riverside County to seek state designation as regional recycling zone

Riverside County supervisors today signed off on an application to the state seeking to have the entire county designated a “Recycling Market Development Zone,” enabling area businesses to apply for state-backed loans that support businesses’ efforts to increase their recycling capacity.

The California Department of Resources, Recycling and Recovery — or CalRecycle — is responsible for granting the designation.

Eight cities, seven unincorporated communities and an airport within the county are recognized as belonging to an RMDZ. However, the designation will expire in August, and the Board of Supervisors wants it renewed — this time encompassing the entire county.

If state officials grant the request, manufacturing facilities within the RMDZ would be eligible to apply for annual loans up to $2 million to purchase equipment and make other modifications toward expanding their recycling programs.

According to the Riverside County Economic Development Agency, the funds could also be invested in efforts to sell “recycled-content products” wherever there’s a market for them.