EPA announces $100 million for recycling infrastructure projects, improvement of solid waste management

Representing its largest investment in recycling in the last three decades, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Wednesday announced the recipients of more than $100 million for recycling infrastructure projects.

The EPA selected 25 communities to receive more than $73 million under the newly created Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling funding opportunity, and another $32 million for states and territories to improve solid waste management planning and data collection, among other things.

“Recycling helps us protect our environment while creating jobs and promoting economic growth,” said Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. “Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this unprecedented investment will provide communities across our country with the opportunity to improve their recycling programs and implement more sustainable waste-management practices. I applaud EPA for the hard work in getting this funding out the door, and I look forward to working together to advance policies that strengthen our nation’s recycling infrastructure.”

The funding supports the implementation of EPA’s National Recycling Strategy, according to a statement. The strategy is intended to build an economy that’s devoted to keeping materials, products, and services in circulation for as long as possible.

Among the recipients is Chaffee County, Colo., which receoved $3.9 million to “design and construct a regional transfer station for recyclables and a materials recovery facility on its landfill site outside of Salida, Colorado. The transfer station and facility will measurably increase local waste diversion and reduce process-related greenhouse gas emissions by providing drop-off options for recycling for county residents that report they cannot receive or afford commercial curbside recycling services,” according to a fact sheet.

Elsewhere, Bozeman, Mt. will receive $4 million to build residential collection infrastructure for year-round diversion of organic waste. Greenfield, Mass. will receive a little more than $2 million to transition its recycling system from system from dual- to single-stream.

Ocean County, N.J. will receive $1.8 million to install a plastic film air conveyance system to manage plasstic bags in mixed recycleables.

The county “will install an artificial intelligence-powered optical classification system, combining cameras within the facility and cutting-edge technology to analyze the waste stream to identify potential areas of improvement,” a fact sheet says. “Lastly, the county will install a secondary eddy current separator which is designed to remove aluminum and aluminum foil from the single-stream mix.”

And in Baltimore, Md., administrators will use a $4 million grant to develop a solar-powered composint facility.

The EPA’s Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grant Program aligns with the Biden Administration’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to ensure that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved, and overburdened by pollution. Approximately $56 million out of the $73 million—or 76%—of the total funding for communities will go toward projects that benefit disadvantaged communities, the statement notes.

“By investing in better recycling, EPA is deploying resources to provide recycling services across the country, including in disadvantaged communities, while preventing waste that contributes to the climate crisis, supporting local economies and creating good-paying jobs,” said EPA Administrator Michael Regan in the statement.