On September 16, as part of President Biden's Investing in America agenda, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $117 million for three separate funding opportunities aimed at advancing recycling infrastructure and promoting education on food waste prevention nationwide. Two of the notices are for Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling grants—one funding opportunity is designated for tribes and intertribal consortia, while another is available to communities such as cities, counties, and parishes across the country. The third notice pertains to the EPA’s Recycling Education and Outreach Grant Program, focusing on preventing food waste and promoting composting. These opportunities are made possible by President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provided the largest investment in EPA recycling in over 30 years.
"Today we make another historic investment to reduce waste across the country," stated EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. "Thanks to President Biden's Investing in America agenda, the EPA is deploying unprecedented resources to improve recycling services and increase educational outreach to communities. By working together to prevent waste that contributes to climate change, we support local economies, create well-paying jobs, and better protect everyone's health in the community."
Some communities lacking waste management infrastructure do not have curbside waste collection services or recycling and composting programs, increasing pressure on local waste management systems and greenhouse gas emissions. Poor waste management also contributes to economic and health issues in historically underserved and overburdened communities. Increasing recycling reduces the climatic, environmental, and social impacts of material use by keeping valuable resources in use rather than sending them to landfills. Preventing wasted food from ending up in landfills plays a significant role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The grant opportunities announced today will enhance waste management systems and consumer education on waste prevention and recycling, fulfilling Congress's goal of creating a stronger, more resilient, cost-effective American recycling system. These funding opportunities also implement specific actions identified in the "National Strategy to Reduce Food Loss and Waste and Recycle Organics."
Projects funded through the EPA’s Recycling Education and Outreach grants will include a national education campaign encouraging increased composting rates among households, improved markets for selling compost products, reduced household food wastage levels through better education about composting practices. Projects funded via Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling grants will improve post-consumer material management infrastructure.
Both Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grants Programs (SWIFR) aim at supporting initiatives under President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative targeting marginalized communities disproportionately affected by pollution with at least 40% of certain federal investments’ benefits.
**Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grants Program (SWIFR)**
Recycling funds for tribes and intertribal consortia total approximately $20 million with individual awards ranging between $100,000-$1.5 million each; funds allocated towards community projects amount approximately $58 million with individual awards between $500k-$5m each including projects enhancing collection/transportation systems/processes related recoverable/reusable/recyclable materials reconditioning/composting efforts detailed eligible applicant activities found here English/Spanish versions respectively next year anticipated state/territory financing opportunity announcement expected
**Recycling Education Outreach Grant Program (REO)**
Approximately $39 million dedicated towards single award within REO program applications sought coalitions featuring project elements: national consumer-focused food reduction campaign market/sales enhancement initiatives educational outreach endeavors sub-award implementation benefit locality-level efforts eligibility/activity details outlined English/Spanish respectively further information available concerning transformative impacts Bipartisan Infrastructure Law upon modernized sustainable disposal methodologies current recipient/grantee listings accessible web-based portal insights avoiding edible wastage sustainable resource utilization circular economy framework furtherance highlighted throughout documentation
