Biden-Harris Administration Announces More than $90 Million in Tribal Recycling Infrastructure Projects and Recycling Education and Outreach Grants
On America Recycles Day and Anniversary of President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA announces grants funded in part by the largest recycling investment in 30 years
WASHINGTON (Nov. 15, 2023) – Today, in conjunction with America Recycles Day, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced 59 selectees to receive over $60 million in Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) grants for Tribes and Intertribal Consortia, and 25 selectees to receive over $33 million in Recycling Education and Outreach (REO) grants. These grants, which are part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, a key pillar of Bidenomics, will expand recycling infrastructure and education for waste management systems across the country.
“Today, on America Recycles Day, we are putting historic recycling investments into communities, made possible by President Biden’s Investing in America agenda,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Two years ago today, the President signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and with it, unleashed unprecedented funding to enable Tribes and communities to update recycling and composting infrastructure, while also advancing education programs to increase recycling rates and reduce waste.”
“Tribal Nations want to do their part to reduce the waste that ends up polluting communities and harming human health. Unfortunately, many lack access to proper recycling and composting programs — oftentimes through no fault of their own,” said Senator Carper (DE), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. “Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA is helping more Tribal communities invest in their recycling infrastructure and improve recycling rates across Indian Country. That’s something worth celebrating this America Recycles Day!”
These recycling grants will help tackle consumer confusion and outdated recycling infrastructure, the largest barriers to proper recycling. Thanks to President Biden’s historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which was signed two years ago today, EPA was provided the largest recycling investment in 30 years that is funding these two new programs.
These grants reflect the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to tackling environmental justice and the climate crisis. Many communities with environmental justice concerns carry a disproportionate environmental and human health burden from waste management. As part of President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, 100% of the funding allocated in EPA’s SWIFR for Tribes grants and 74% of the funding allocated in the REO grants will benefit underserved and overburdened communities. Increasing recycling is also an important way to reduce pollution because natural resource extraction and processing make up half of all global greenhouse gas emissions that drive the climate crisis. Recycling reduces the need to extract resources such as timber, water, and minerals for new products.
Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grants for Tribes and Intertribal Consortia
The SWIFR grants for Tribes and Intertribal Consortia will enable Tribes to make improvements to their recycling and waste management systems, meeting Congress’ goal to create a stronger, more resilient, and cost-effective U.S. municipal solid waste recycling system. EPA has announced 59 selectees to receive over $60 million through the program.
Examples of selected projects include:
- Purchasing small, mobile recycling stations to be placed strategically on Tribal land for easy access by Tribal members.
- Expanding food waste management and diversion for a Tribally owned and operated casino through the purchase and operation of a large food waste digester.
- Updating a building for processing recyclables, including purchasing a baler for the building, roll-off bins, and a roll-off truck for collecting, organizing, and shipping waste materials for reuse and recycling.
- Constructing a new waste transfer station and purchase of related supplies and equipment.
- Planning for and constructing an energy-efficient cardboard processing facility.
- Updating an Integrated Waste Management Plan.
For a list of the 59 grant selectees for the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling for Tribes and Intertribal Consortia funding, please visit: EPA’s Recipients and Selectees webpage.
Recycling Education and Outreach Grants
The Recycling Education and Outreach grant projects will help inform the public about local recycling and composting programs and focus on increasing collection rates and decreasing contamination of recycling streams across the nation. EPA has announced 25 selectees to receive over $33 million in Recycling Education and Outreach grants.
Examples of projects that have been selected include:
- Creating a museum exhibit in a popular tourist locale to demonstrate ways that materials can be reused or remanufactured.
- Implementing a school-based curriculum to educate students about sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics.
- Introducing artificial intelligence technology to identify sources of contamination in the recycling stream and creating community and individual messaging to improve recycling behavior.
- Conducting food waste audits and encouraging composting in Title I schools throughout disadvantaged communities in the American Southeast.
For a list of the 25 grant selectees for the Recycling Education and Outreach funding, please visit: EPA’s Recipients and Selectees webpage.
America Recycles Day
Today marks the 29th America Recycles Day, the second anniversary of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the second anniversary of EPA’s National Recycling Strategy. The National Recycling Strategy was the first in a series of EPA strategies devoted to building a circular economy – one that reduces material use, redesigns materials, products, and services to be less resource intensive, and recaptures “waste” as a resource to manufacture new materials and products.
To build upon the goals of the recycling strategy, EPA released the Draft National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution for public comment in April. The Draft Strategy outlines steps to reduce pollution during production, improve management of plastic materials throughout product lifecycles, and encourage actions to keep plastics out of national waterways and the environment. Future strategies will address food waste and electronics.
EPA also recently announced over $105 million for the selectees of the historic SWIFR grants for states and communities. These improvements will support a circular economy and help lower greenhouse gas emissions as more efficient waste management systems are key to reducing energy consumption and the need for raw materials, while rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure, powered by well-paying jobs that don’t require four-year degrees.
Visit EPA’s website to learn more ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle.
EPA offers many free, online resources, including:
- Composting Food Scraps in Your Community: A Social Marketing Toolkit.
- Wasted Food Scale: Updated Recommendations.
- Standardized Terms for Materials Accepted by Municipal Recycling Programs.
- Creating Messages that Drive Behavior Change.
- Recycling Infrastructure and Market Opportunities Map.
Learn more about America Recycles Day.