Education

EPA Consumer Recycling Education and Outreach (REO) Grant Program

For this second round of REO funding, EPA is focusing on preventing the generation of wasted food and increasing its recycling through composting. The program provides $39 million to fund one cooperative agreement that includes developing and implementing a national consumer wasted food reduction campaign, expanding the market for and sales of compost, and increasing education and outreach to households on composting.

Eligible Recipients:

This funding opportunity requires all applicants to submit coalition applications.

The entities eligible to apply for this grant (either as lead applicant or as coalition member) are:

  • U.S. States, including Washington, D.C.
  • Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands.
  • Local governments.
  • Indian Tribes.
  • Native Hawaiian organizations, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
  • Nonprofit organizations.
  • Public-private partnerships.

Eligible Projects:

EPA anticipates funding one opportunity with three projects.

  • Project 1: Develop and Implement a National Consumer Wasted Food Reduction Campaign. This project’s objective is to decrease wasted food from households.
  • Project 2: Expand the Market and Sales of Compost. This project’s objective is to expand markets for and sales of compost.
  • Project 3: Increase Education and Outreach to Households on Composting. This project’s objective is to:

— Inform the public about new or existing residential food waste composting programs.
— Provide information about the materials that are accepted as part of a residential food waste composting program.
–Increase collection rates and decrease physical contamination in residential food waste composting programs.
Please refer to the NOFO for more information (pdf).

Funding Source:

EPA

Funding Amount:

The total estimated funding for this competitive opportunity is $39,094,000. Applications must include all three projects as listed above.

Project 1 – Develop and Implement a National Consumer Wasted Food Reduction Campaign – Funding range $30,000,000 to $34,094,000

Project 2 and 3 – Expand the Market and Sales of Compost/ Increase Education and Outreach to Households on Composting – Funding range $5,000,000 to $9,094,000 (combined)

This program aligns with the Biden Administration’s Justice40 Initiative. This means that applicants must demonstrate in their proposals that 40% of the overall benefits created by the projects funded in this assistance agreement will flow to disadvantaged communities. Please refer to the NOFO for details (pdf).

Funding Deadline:

Applications are due in Grants.gov on December 20, 2024.

Contact:

If you have questions about the grants, email RecyclingEd@epa.gov.

More Information:

https://www.epa.gov/infrastructure/consumer-recycling-education-and-outreach-grant-program#webinars

EPA Environmental Education (EE) Grants

The Environmental Education Grant Program is seeking applications from eligible applicants to support locally-focused environmental education projects that promote environmental stewardship and help develop knowledgeable and responsible students, teachers, and community members. This grant program provides financial support for projects that design, demonstrate, and/or disseminate environmental education practices, methods, or techniques that increase public awareness and knowledge about local environmental issues and provides participants in its programs the skills necessary to make informed decisions and to take responsible actions toward the environment.

Eligible Recipients:
Applicants must represent one of the following types of organizations to be eligible for an environmental education grant:

  • Local education agencies
  • College or universities
  • State education or environmental agencies
  • Nonprofit organizations described in Section 501(C)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
  • Tribal organizations that qualify as nonprofit organization described Section 501(C)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
  • Tribal education agencies
  • Noncommercial educational broadcasting entity as defined and licensed by Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

“Tribal education agencies” that are eligible to apply include a school or community college which is controlled by an Indian tribe, band, or nation, which is recognized as eligible for special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians and which is not administered by the Bureau of Indian Education.

Eligible Projects:
Applications must address at least one of these Educational Priorities to be considered eligible: community projects; career development; environmental education capacity building; environmental justice and/or indigenous knowledge.

Applications must also address at least one of the Administrator’s Environmental Priorities to be considered eligible: addressing climate change and improving air quality; ensuring clean and safe water; and/or cleaning up our communities by revitalizing land and preventing contamination.

Funding Source:
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Funding Amount:

The total amount of funding available under this announcement is approximately $360,000, depending on Agency funding levels, the quality of applications received, agency priorities, and other applicable considerations. It is anticipated that 3-5 awards will be made under this announcement. Each Region 2 grant will be funded for no less than $50,000, and no more than $100,000 in federal funds. Region 2 covers the states of New Jersey (NJ), New York (NY), Puerto Rico (PR), and the Virgin Islands (VI).

Deadline: November 8, 2023

Contact:

If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact:

Chiamaka Alozie, Region 2 (Electronic Submissions Contact)
Michael Band, HQ (Eligibility and General NOFO Contact)

Alozie.Chiamaka@epa.gov; EEgrants@epa.gov

More Information:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=350204

The Recycling Partnership Residential Curbside Recycling Cart Grant

The purpose of the Residential Curbside Recycling Cart Grant Program is to advance recycling in communities across the United States by offering financial and technical assistance to support the implementation of cartbased curbside recycling. This Request For Proposals (RFP) offers communities the chance to apply for grant funding to support the acquisition of recycling carts with the goal of bringing high quality cart-based curbside recycling service to households across the United States. The Recycling Partnership seeks to expand access to cart based recycling collection by converting bin or bag-based curbside recycling collection programs to cartbased collection, or by supporting the implementation of new curbside recycling programs using cart-based
collection

Eligible Recipients:

Grant funding is available to support publicly sponsored curbside recycling programs. The applicant must be a local government, solid waste authority, or federally recognized tribe. Funding is only available to communities seeking to implement cart-based curbside recycling programs. Grant funding is not available to replace existing carts, to support the purchase of carts for waste or organics collection, or to support the collection of recyclables from businesses, schools, or institutions. The grant program offers funding to support the purchase of recycling carts and to implement recycling education and outreach efforts. Grants are not available for education and outreach alone.

Eligible Projects:
Cart Size and Cart-Related Requirements – The following cart requirements must be met:
a. Communities offering weekly collection of recyclables are required to provide residents with a cart that is at
least 60+ gallons in volume.
b. Communities offering every other week collection of recyclables are required to provide residents with a cart that is at least 90+ gallons in volume.
c. Exceptions to Size Requirements: Communities may offer accommodations to households with residents
who are not physically able to move standard sized recycling carts to the designated area for collection. In such cases, smaller carts may be acceptable provided that the community has established clear eligibility criteria for who may recycle using smaller carts and under what conditions.
d. Recycling carts purchased with Residential Curbside Recycling Cart Grant funding must be manufactured with a minimum of five percent (5%) residential post-consumer recycled plastic content based on the weight of the entire mass of the body, lid and wheels. To qualify as residential post-consumer content, the reclaimed plastic must have been generated by a household and collected for recycling by a curbside or drop-off recycling program. This recycled content requirement cannot be met through the use of postindustrial plastics or plastic sourced from end-of-life carts or bins. The purpose of this requirement is to generate demand for plastics collected by residential recycling programs in the United States, and this requirement has been developed in cooperation with the Association of Plastics Recyclers and a consortium of recycling cart manufacturers. It is understood by The Recycling Partnership that the majority of the primary manufacturers of residential recycling carts serving the North American marketplace can meet this
requirement without any impact on cart price, performance or warranty.
e. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags must be embedded in carts at the time of manufacturing. A
successful applicant is not required to purchase RFID reading equipment or to use an RFID tracking or data
management system.
f. The recycling carts must be clearly labelled in a manner to indicate that they are for the collection of
recyclables and must be distinct in appearance from carts used for waste collection.
g. The applicant must provide carts at no cost to residents other than standard solid waste or recycling service taxes or fees. Communities that require residents to purchase carts are not eligible for a grant under this program.

Funding Source:
The Recycling Partnership

Funding Amount:
Varies.

Deadline:
Proposals will be accepted on an on-going basis

Contact:
Vincent Leray
vleray@recyclingpartnership.org

More Information:
https://recyclingpartnership.org/recycling-cart-grant/

The Recycling Partnership Recycling Inclusion Fund

What does a world look like where all people feel like valued members within their communities? How can we as a global, national, and local industry do our part to apply shared experiences, knowledge, and resources to catalyze a sustainable life for everyone?

The Recycling Inclusion Fund directs grant dollars toward investment in recycling infrastructure and education equity, a training and leadership program geared towards communities of color, and research into the challenges that hinder a more equitable circular economy. 

Eligible Recipients:

TBA

Eligible Projects:

  • Research: To identify the state of recycling access and participation, barriers, and needs in BIPOC communities across the U.S.
    • Impact: Improved program efficiency to increase material capture; empowered residents so that they can actively participate in recycling.
  • Access and Education: To reach and empower BIPOC populations with recycling access and education resources that meet their needs.
    • Impact: Expanded range of household populations reached; increased household capture; achievement of equitable access for all.
  • Leadership Training Programs: To create leadership opportunities in the sustainability sector for recent BIPOC college graduates through the “Fellowship Through Partnership” Program, offering experience and training.
    • Impact: Establishment of a diverse talent pipeline with exposure to the full recycling value chain; incorporation of diverse perspectives to deliver strong solutions.

Funding Source:
3M, Arconic Foundation, Coca Cola Foundation, Cox Enterprises, Kroger’s Zero Hunger Zero Waste Foundation, Procter & Gamble, and TAZO 

Funding Amount:
 TBA

Funding Deadline:
TBA

Contact:
 E-mail Jessica at jlevine@recyclingpartnership.org

More Information:
https://recyclingpartnership.org/new-recycling-inclusion-fund/

EPA Recycling Education and Outreach Grants

Projects funded through the grant program will inform the public about residential or community recycling programs; provide information about the recycled materials that are accepted; and increase collection rates and decrease contamination across the nation.

Eligible Recipients:

  • U.S. States, including the District of Columbia.
  • Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands.
  • Local governments.
  • Federally recognized tribal governments.
  • Native Hawaiian organizations, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
  • Nonprofit organizations.
  • Public-private partnerships.

Funding Source:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Funding Amount:
$15 million per year from Fiscal Years 2022 to 2026 to remain available until expended

Deadline:
EPA anticipates the Requests for Applications will be released this fall.

Contact:
RecyclingEd@epa.gov

More Information:
https://www.epa.gov/rcra/recycling-education-and-outreach-program#grant

Toyota USA Foundation

The Foundation is committed to enhancing the quality of education by supporting innovative programs and building partnerships with organizations dedicated to improving the teaching and learning of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Eligible Recipients:
In order to be eligible, organizations must be classified as a 501(c) (3) public charity by the Internal Revenue Service, be both located within the United States and have a national scope. Additionally, programs requesting funding must focus on education specifically in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Funding Source:
Toyota USA Foundation

Funding Amount:
Except when otherwise indicated, grants, of a minimum of $50,000 per year, are available to support the development and implementation of programs.

Deadlines:
Applications accepted year-round

Contact:
ToyotaPhilanthropy@Toyota.com

More Information:
https://www.toyota.com/usa/community/grant-guidelines-applications/overview.html

Carton 2 Garden

The Carton 2 Garden Grant supports educational garden projects that enhance the quality of life for students and their local communities.

Eligible Recipients:
Any Pre K-12 public and private school planning a new garden program or expanding an established one that serves at least 15 youth between the ages of three and 18 is eligible to apply.

Eligible Projects:
Winners will be selected based on their implementation of an innovative garden creation featuring creative and sustainable uses for repurposed milk and juice cartons.

Funding Source:
Kids Gardening

Funding Amount:
Fourteen schools will be awarded prize packages, including a grand prize worth $5,000

Deadline:
March 25, 2019

Contact:
132 Intervale Road
Burlington, VT 05401
info@kidsgardening.org

More Information:
https://www.kidsgardening.org/garden-grants/