Solid Waste

EPA Consumer Recycling Education and Outreach (REO) Grant Program

The EPA is seeking applications proposing projects that inform the public about new or existing residential or community recycling programs; provide information about the recycled materials that are accepted as part of a residential or community recycling program that provides for the separate collection of residential solid waste from recycled material; and increases collection rates and decreases contamination in residential and community recycling programs. Projects will improve consumer recycling education with the goal of achieving separate collection of recycled material across the nation, maximizing the efficient reuse of materials, and identifying strategies that otherwise result in an increase in volume of recyclable materials. The EPA also recognizes and encourages applications that demonstrate evidence-based messaging and strategies associated with effective communication campaigns designed to increase prevention, reuse, repair, remanufacture, recycling, anaerobic digestion, and composting in communities and/or decrease contamination in the recycling stream. This approach to community-informed messaging goes beyond education only by emphasizing researching the audience, building trust, and reducing audience barriers while emphasizing benefits for desired action.

Eligible Recipients:

An entity that is eligible to receive a grant under the grant program is—

  • a U.S. State, including the District of Columbia;
  • Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, and any agency or instrumentality thereof exclusive of local governments
  • a unit of local government as defined in the Local government provision of 2 CFR 200.1;
  • an Indian Tribe (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304));
  • a Native Hawaiian organization (as defined in section 6207 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7517));
  • the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands;
  • the Office of Hawaiian Affairs;
  • a nonprofit organization; or
  • a public-private partnership.

Eligible Projects:

Goal 1: Tackle the Climate Crisis;

  • Objective 1.1: Reduce Emissions that Cause Climate Change
  • Objective 1.3: Advance International and Subnational Climate Efforts

Goal 2: Take Decisive Action to Advance Environmental Justice and Civil Rights;

  • Objective 2.1: Promote Environmental Justice and Civil Rights at the Federal, Tribal, State, and Local Levels
  • Objective 2.2: Embed Environmental Justice and Civil Rights into EPA’s Programs, Policies, and Activities

Goal 6: Safeguard and Revitalize Communities

  • Objective 6.1: Clean Up and Restore Land for Productive Uses and Healthy Communities
  • Objective 6.2: Reduce Waste and Prevent Environmental Contamination

Funding Source:

EPA

Funding Amount:

It is anticipated that approximately $30,000,000 will be awarded under this announcement, depending on the availability of funds, quantity and quality of applications received, and other applicable considerations.

Funding Deadline:

Application packages must be submitted electronically to the EPA through Grants.gov (www.grants.gov) no later than February 15, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. (EST) in order to be considered for funding.

Contact:

Jessica Oursler
U.S. EPA, Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery (MC 5306P)
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW,
Washington, DC

RecyclingEd@epa.gov

More Information: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=344491

EPA State and Territories Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grants

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $275,000,000 total from Fiscal Year 2022 to Fiscal Year 2026 for grants authorized under the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act. EPA will make available $30,000,000 in Fiscal Year 2023 for states and territories to improve post-consumer materials management programs through planning, data collection, and the implementation of plans.

Eligible Recipients:

The entities eligible to apply for this funding opportunity are:

  • U.S. States, including Washington, D.C.
  • U.S. Territories (Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands).

Eligible Projects:

Funding can be used for three categories of activities:

  • Develop or update plans to advance post-consumer materials management. Plans can be for Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 256 solid waste management plans or other planning documents (e.g., circular economy plans).
  • Develop, strengthen, and/or implement comprehensive data collection efforts that demonstrate progress toward the National Recycling Goal and Food Loss and Waste Reduction Goal. Data collection and measurement efforts should be designed to improve the state’s ability to track progress towards national and state recycling and/or circular economy goals. Data collection efforts could include state-wide or other targeted waste characterization studies.
  • Support the state-led implementation of plans to advance post-consumer materials management.

Funding Source:

EPA

Funding Amount:

EPA anticipates awarding up a total of $30,000,000 in fiscal year 2023.

Funding Deadline:

Participating states and territories have submitted a Notice of Intent to Participate (NOIP) to the EPA. EPA released the program guidance in grants.gov (pdf) (440 K) on December 15, 2022.

The first draft of workplans are due to the EPA by February 3, 2023.

Contact:

Dale Carpenter Carpenter.Dale@epa.gov

More Information: https://www.epa.gov/rcra/grants-states-and-territories

EPA Solid Waste Infrastructure and Recycling Grants

The Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling program provides grants to implement a strategy to improve post-consumer materials management and infrastructure; support improvements to local post-consumer materials management and recycling programs; and assist local waste management authorities in making improvements to local waste management systems.

Eligible Recipients:

  • U.S. States and political subdivisions of states.
  • Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands.
  • District of Columbia.
  • Federally recognized tribal governments.
  • Former tribal reservations in Oklahoma (as determined by the Secretary of the Interior).
  • Alaskan Native Villages as defined in Public Law 92-203.
  • Intertribal Consortia consistent with the requirements in Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Section 35.504(a).

Eligible Projects:

TBA

Funding Source:
United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act and initially funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Funding Amount:
TBA

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

Contact:
Provide input or submit questions about this program to SWIFR@epa.gov.

More Information:
https://www.epa.gov/rcra/solid-waste-infrastructure-recycling-grant-program