EPA Anaerobic Digestion (AD) Funding Opportunity

EPA supports diversion of food waste and other organic materials from landfills. Anaerobic Digestion (AD) is an alternative to landfilling that results in environmental benefits in the form of renewable energy (biogas) and a product that can improve soil health (digestate). The goal of this funding opportunity was to accelerate the development of new or enhance/increase existing anaerobic digestion capacity and infrastructure in the United States.

Eligible Recipients:

  • State (including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and Northern Mariana Islands), local, Tribal, interstate, and intrastate government agencies and instrumentalities, and;
  • Non-profit organizations (as defined by 2 CFR Part 200) including non-profit educational institutions and non-profit hospitals. Organizations that fall under 501(c)(4) that lobby are not applicable.

Additionally, up to approximately $800,000 of the estimated total will be set aside specifically for awards to the following organizations:

  • U.S. territories
  • Tribal governments
  • Tribal colleges and universities; or
  • Eligible organizations located in persistent poverty counties.

Eligible Projects: Along with other requirements that are noted in the Request for Applications (RFA), applications must address one of the following objectives to merit further review.

  • Develop new or expand existing AD capacity for processing food waste.
  • Demonstrate solutions and/or approaches for increasing food waste AD utilization that can be replicated by other communities, governments, or other entities.
  • Support state, Tribal, and/or local government programs that seek to use AD to increase their food waste diversion rates.
  • Projects are awarded under the general authority of the Solid Waste Disposal Act, Subchapter VIII, Section 6981, which must include in the project conducting and promoting the coordination of research, investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys, public education programs, and studies relating to solid waste.

Funding Source:
US Environmental Protection Agency

Funding Amount:
The total amount of funding for this program is $2,000,000. Individual grant awards may potentially be in the range of $50,000-$200,000 for the funding period. Up to $800,000 of the estimated total will be set-aside specifically for underserved communities and/or Tribal projects. Please refer to RFA for complete information.

Deadline:
The FY21 Request for Applications (RFA) is now closed.

Contact:
If you have questions about the 2020 or 2021 Anaerobic Digestion Funding Opportunity, please contact ADGrant@epa.gov.

More Information:
https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-management-food/sustainable-materials-management-2021-anaerobic-digestion-funding