EVANS CITY — All residents and businesses in the borough will receive a free recycle container as a result of a state grant.

Public works Director Norm Nelson announced at the June 2 council meeting that a recycling grant he applied for in January was accepted by the state Department of Environmental Protection.

The DEP will provide $38,750, and the borough will add up to $4,000 to purchase about 800 recycle containers, Nelson said. He said the containers will exactly match the borough’s garbage containers, only they will be blue.

Residents can place metal, plastic and glass containers in the totes, and possibly newspapers, Nelson said.

The recycle tubs provided to residents and businesses several years ago at a cost of $5 apiece are in poor repair, and in need of replacing, Nelson said. Thanks to the grant, and the matching funds from the borough, the new containers will be free.

He said if the borough improves its recycling program and more residents and businesses recycle, more funds could be forthcoming from the DEP. He said everyone who has garbage service must recycle, whether residential, retail, school or commercial.

“You must recycle,” Nelson said. “We have people who don’t, and they’re going to have to start.”

He said a county ordinance mandates all residents recycle, and a borough ordinance allows for the enforcement of the county mandate.

Council President Lee Dyer said Friday that while Nelson had help from the Council of Governments, he managed the grant on his own.

“Norm is to be congratulated for finding this opportunity, pursuing it, and capturing it,” Dyer said.

Dyer said he hopes the arrival of the containers will cause an uptick in recycling.

“And it will help our environment,” Dyer said.

Nelson said the containers likely will be distributed in late fall.