EPA Opens Applications for New Recycling Grants, Issues Recycling Toolkit

The US Environmental Protection Agency has issued Requests for Applications for two important new recycling grant programs, providing states, municipalities, and other entities the opportunity to apply for millions of dollars in funds. The Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) and Education and Outreach Grant Programs were established by the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), both of which were supported by SWANA. EPA will be accepting applications through January 16, 2023.

Nena Shaw, EPA Acting Director for the Resource Conservation and Sustainability Division, will be speaking about the grant programs and related EPA waste-related initiatives during her keynote presentation at WASTECON 2022 on Thursday, December 8 in San Diego, California. EPA will also be scheduling informational webinars on each of the grant opportunities. An online guide for preparing for a federal grant is available here.

EPA will be holding multiple informational webinars about these funding opportunities, divided by grant type and applicants. Registrations is open here. SWANA encourages members interested in applying for a grant to register for these webinars when available..

Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) Grant Program

The Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) Grant Program provides funding for states, territories, tribes, and municipalities 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.

The SWIFR grants are divided into three different funding opportunities—States & Territories, Political Subdivisions, and Tribal. The eligibility and application process vary for each category. EPA has not yet posted information for Tribal entities.

Political Subdivisions of States and Territories that are eligible for SWIFR grants include counties, cities, towns, parishes, and similar units of governments that have executive and legislative functions to be political subdivisions of states and territories. Read the Eligible Applicants section of the Request for Applications for the full details.

Eligible activities include, but are not limited to, projects that fund development or upgrades to drop-off and transfer stations, recycling equipment, material recovery facilities (MRFs), composting facilities, anaerobic digesters, curbside collection programs, and reuse infrastructure. EPA anticipates awarding approximately 25 assistance agreements under this funding opportunity, with at least one award per EPA Region. The minimum individual award floor is $500,000, and the maximum individual award ceiling is $4,000,000.

Political Subdivisions must submit completed applications through grants.gov by January 16, 2023. The full Request for Application is available here: https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2022-11/EPA-I-OLEM-ORCR-23-03.pdf.

States & Territories that are planning to apply for funds must submit a Notice of Intent to Participate (NOIP) to the EPA by email at SWIFR@epa.gov and to their regional contact by December 15, 2022. The NOIP must be from an official within the governor’s office, the director of the designated agency, or other authorized official. EPA sent a NOIP template to states and territories that they may use for their submittals.

Education and Outreach Grant Program

The Education and Outreach Grant Program provides funding to inform the public about residential or community recycling or composting programs, provide information about the materials that are accepted as part of residential or community recycling or composting programs, and increase collection rates and decrease contamination across the nation.

Eligibility for these grants is broader than for SWIFR, including nonprofit organizations and public-private partnerships in addition to States, Territories, Tribes, and local governments. EPA anticipates awarding approximately 25 assistance agreements under this funding opportunity, with at least one award per EPA Region. The minimum individual award floor is $250,000, and the maximum individual award ceiling is $2,000,000 for the grant period.

Examples of eligible activities include public service announcements, door-to-door campaigns, social media and digital outreach, advertising campaigns, business recycling outreach, bin/cart/receptacle labeling and signs, community ambassador and training-the-trainer programs.

All applicants must submit completed applications through grants.gov by January 16, 2023. The full Request for Application is available here: https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2022-11/EPA-I-OLEM-ORCR-23-02.pdf.

Model Recycling Program Toolkit

The legislation that established the Education and Outreach Grant Program also directed EPA to develop a Model Recycling Program Toolkit for stakeholders. Toolkit materials are intended to help states, territories, local governments, tribes, schools, nonprofit organizations, companies, and public-private partnerships create effective programs for recycling, composting, anaerobic digestion, reuse, repair, and waste reduction. Materials in the toolkit can help communities increase participation in recycling programs and reduce contamination in the recycling stream. The Model Recycling Program Toolkit is available online here: https://www.epa.gov/recyclingstrategy/model-recycling-program-toolkit.

SWANA will continue to provide updates and additional information to assist members in applying for these federal recycling grant programs.