REAP

REAP banner depicting various stages of a site cleanup

Overview

Since 2005, the Rehabilitation Environmental Action Plan strives to clean up West Virginia and rid the state of unsightly litter. The REAP initiative harbors all of the state cleanup programs within the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection. REAP is a powerful force in the campaign against illegal dumping and littering.

The program derives its authority from the A. James Manchin Rehabilitation Environmental Action Plan, pursuant to WV State Code §22-15A.

Get Involved

Help make West Virginia the cleanest state in the nation. For more information or to volunteer call: 1-800-322-5530

Contact Us

West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection
Rehabilitation Environmental Action Plan (REAP)
601 57th Street SE
Charleston, WV 25304
Phone: (304) 926-0499
Toll Free: (800) 322-5530
REAP Program Contacts


Upcoming Events, News, and Updates

2024 WVMIS Spring Cleanup

Applications are now available for the 2024 West Virginia Make It Shine Statewide Cleanup. This year's event will be held during the first two weeks of April (April 1st through April 14th) and applications are due by March 8th.

DEP Approves 12 Applicants for FY2024 CED Recycling Grants

Under the Rehabilitation Environmental Action Plan (REAP), twelve applicants have been approved for grant amounts totaling $85,950.00 in the Department of Environmental Protection’s Covered Electronic Devices (CED) Recycling Grant Program.

Free Day at the Landfill

Most public landfills in West Virginia will offer days where residents can bring their rubbish without having to pay tipping fees. Check with your local Solid Waste Authority for more information.



REAP Programs

REAP focuses on cleanup efforts from both program staff and volunteers statewide. In a unique partnership, the program empowers citizens to take ownership of their communities by providing technical, financial, and resource assistance in cleanup efforts.

Adopt a Highway

Adopt a highway logo

The Adopt-A-Highway Program is co-sponsored by the Division of Highways and the Department of Environmental Protection. It was established in the late 1980s to improve the quality of our environment by encouraging public involvement in the elimination of highway litter. The program offers volunteers the opportunity to take charge of their environment by making a positive effort to create a cleaner, more aesthetic place in which to live.

Adopt a Stream

Adopt a Stream Logo

The Adopt-A-Stream Program is sponsored by the Department of Environmental Protection. It was established in 2023 and is housed in the DEP’s REAP Program. The program’s goal is to improve the quality of our environment by encouraging public involvement in the elimination of stream litter. Its objective is to save taxpayers money by increasing public awareness and to serve as an educational tool by focusing on the consequences which result when stream littering is allowed to continue unchecked. The program offers volunteers the opportunity to take charge of their environment by making a positive effort to create a cleaner, more aesthetic place in which to live.

Covered Electronic Devices

Old computer equipment in a messy pile.

Manufacturer and Retailer Compliance Information

Senate Bill 746, which became effective June 6, 2008, requires each manufacturer wishing to sell or lease covered electronic devices to register with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection no later than the first day of January, 2009 and each year thereafter. The purpse is to establish a registration process for manufacturers of covered electronic devices to determine if manufacturers have adopted or implemented a takeback/recycling program for their products that is free to the public.

Dilapidated Properties Program

REAP Logo

WVDEP REAP Dilapidated Properties Program is working in collaboration with municipalities and county commissions to identify, demolish, and reclaim dilapidated properties across the state of West Virginia. Together, we are turning liabilities into opportunities, one dilapidated property at a time.

Grant Opportunities

A small chalkboard with the word 'grants' written on it.

The Recycling section was established in 1989 to ensure compliance with the West Virginia Natural Resources Laws (Chapter 20, Article 11) before moving to the REAP program. This section is responsible for administering the following programs which have been developed and implemented to meet our goals. We also provide support in the following areas: public education programs and recycling market development.

Eligible parties may view and apply for REAP grants through the wvOASIS Vendor Self Service (VSS) system.

Pollution Prevention and Open Dump Program

PPOD logo depicting the words 'WVDEP PPOD' over an outline of WV with mountains and trees in the background

The Open Dump Cleanup Program uses landfill fees to clean up illegal dumps and to gather evidence to prosecute illegal dumping activity. Currently the program has completed more than 15,000 projects that have resulted in the removal of an estimated 147,000 tons of material, including 26,000 tons of steel, 62,000 appliances and over 2,000,000 tires. There are an estimated 15,000 open dumps across WV.

Recycling and Waste Reduction

Recycling Symbol

Tracking of national municipal solid waste (MSW) generation rates began in 1960. At that time, the average rate was 2.7 lbs. per person per day. The national MSW per capita rate has been steadily increasing over the past decade. In 2010, our per capita MSW rate stood at 3.94. Our most recent data from 2020 shows that this number has increased to 4.73 lbs. per person per day.

Tire Collection Events

A forklift carrying many old tires that were sent for recycling as part of a tire collection event.

Each year, REAP's PPOD Program conducts tire collection events across the state. Atleast one collection event is held in each county. During these events, individuals with proof of WV residency can dispose of ten tires in a safe way. PPOD is also responsible for the removal of tires piles located across the state. During 2009, more than 400,000 tires were collected and/or removed from West Virginia's landscape.

WV Make It Shine Program

Teenagers cleaning up Lick Creed during the Make It Shine 2010 Cleanup.

The WV Make It Shine Program is a comprehensive program aimed at making WV the cleanest state in the nation. Throughout the state, groups of volunteers, businesses, community organizations, and local governments are working to accomplish this goal. It is the responsibility of the WV Make It Shine Program to coordinate the effort of these people to make our state shine. The WV Make It Shine Program is involved in several events each year.

Additional Resources

  • Enviro-Fact Sheet: Illegal Dumping

    West Virginia has an estimated 15,000 illegal dumps. There is also a large amount of litter and debris along our highways and river banks that results from improper management of solid waste.

  • Free Recycling Takeback Program

    Did you know that you don't just have to send your e-waste (computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices) to the landfill when it has reached the end of its useful life? As of April 2010, the law in West Virginia establishes a registration process for manufacturers of covered electronic devices, to determine if manufacturers have adopted or implemented a takeback/recycling program for their products that is free to the public and to award recycling grants to counties and municipalities for recycling or other programs that divert covered electronic devices from the waste stream.



Spotlight: Elkins Make It Shine Scarecrow

Meet the Elkins Make It Shine Scarecrow created by Melodee Price, Elkins Make It Shine Coordinator. The REAP Make It Shine themed scarecrow is fashioned with a trash can for a head, gloves, a litter grabber tool, REAP high visibility shirt, a REAP bag and of course, a mask.

You can view this scarecrow and others for two weeks on downtown street during the City of Elkins Annual Scarecrow Festival.

Make It Shine Scarecrow
Make It Shine Scarecrow
Make It Shine Scarecrow and Mayor Van Broughten
Make It Shine Scarecrow and Mayor Van Broughten



REAP in the News

  • WV Make It Shine 2022 Award Winners Announced

    Each year, to encourage environmental stewardship throughout West Virginia, the WV Make It Shine Program sponsors its Clean County and Community Awards. These awards recognize county solid waste authorities and municipalities for implementing REAP programs as well as other environmental initiatives.

  • FY 2023 CED Grants Awarded

    Under the Rehabilitation Environmental Action Plan (REAP), fourteen applicants have been approved for grant amounts totaling $101,100.00 in the Department of Environmental Protection’s Covered Electronic Devices (CED) Recycling Grant Program.

  • FY 2024 Litter Control Grants Awarded

    West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection announced the recipients of the WV Department of Environmental Protection’s REAP Litter Control Matching Grants. There were 25 individual applicants approved for amounts totaling $98,339.00. The grants were awarded to county solid waste authorities, county commissions, and municipalities.

  • WVDEP Announces 21 Communities to Receive Over $9.2 Million

    09/30/2022: Gov. Jim Justice and West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) held an event today in Matoaka to announce 21 West Virginia communities will receive over $9.2 million in grant funding to remove abandoned and dilapidated structures across West Virginia.

  • Clean County and Clean Community Awards

    The City of Vienna and the Berkeley County Solid Waste Authority were the first-place winners as the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection's Rehabilitation Environmental Action Plan recently announced the recipeints of the Clean Communities and Clean Counties Awards.

  • WVDEP-REAP Approves Nine Applications for 2021 CED Recycling Grants

    The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection's Covered Electronic Devices (CED) Recycling Grant Program has approved 9 applications for grants totaling $87,565.

    Established in 2008, the CED Program requires that manufacturers register their brands with the state. The fees collected from this program allow counties and municipalities to apply for CED grants to conduct electronic collection events and support ongoing collection programs.​

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