Region 8
Recycling Grants
National Information
Regional Information
The Region 8 Solid Waste Program administers a few of EPA's many grant programs. Grant funding is provided to government agencies and non-profit organizations to promote waste reduction and the safe and effective management of solid waste.
Frequently asked questions
- What types of solid waste projects does EPA fund?
- What can EPA solid waste funds pay for?
- Who is eligible to apply for EPA solid waste grants?
- How and when do I apply for EPA solid waste grants?
- Where can recycling-based businesses get grants, loans, or other types of financing?
- Where can I get information about other organizations that fund solid waste related projects?
What types of solid waste projects does EPA fund?
EPA solid waste grants generally fund program development or pilot projects which promote waste reduction, recycled-content products, markets for recycled materials, or assist in the development of solid waste management plans and the clean up of open dumping.
What can EPA solid waste funds pay for?
EPA solid waste funds may pay for a new position, contractor support, the development and printing of public outreach materials, supplies, minor equipment purchases, and project-related travel (e.g., to conduct or attend workshops). Please note that EPA solid waste funds generally cannot pay for large equipment purchases or be used for building or construction.
Who is eligible to apply for EPA solid waste grants?
In general, solid waste grant programs are open to government agencies and non-profit organizations, but it's best to check the eligibility requirements for the grant program that interests you. For-profit businesses are generally not eligible.
How and when do I apply for EPA solid waste grants?
Check the Region 8 Grants Page
Where can recycling-based businesses get grants, loans, or other types of financing?
A number of resources exist to assist recycling-based businesses to secure financing. Some of these include EPA-funded Recycling Investment Forums , the Small Business Innovatiion Research Program, and the Jobs Through Recycling Program.
Where can I get information about other organizations that fund solid waste related projects?
The full text of many funding announcements can be accessed at the following internet sites:
- Federal Register announcements
- Commerce Business Daily (CBD)
Active and Past Grant Projects
Boulder County Resource Conservation Division: Roofs to Roads: Asphalt Shingle Recycling and Reuse Initiative
The Boulder County Resource Conservation Division is working with Roofs to Roads Colorado, the asphalt industry, state and city transportation officials, and other stakeholders to develop an infrastructure for recycled asphalt shingles (RAS) in roadway paving projects to create durable roads, conserve natural resources, reduce solid waste and greenhouse gas emissions, and reduce costs for paving materials. Project date: 2009.
Initiative progress and benefits
University of North Dakota Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC): Market Development, Education, and Outreach to Encourage Fly Ash Use in Roads, Parking Lots, and Other Construction
University of North Dakota-based EERC will survey current fly ash use in soil stabilization in Region 8, and organize Stable Soil: A Workshop Focused on Regional Soil Stabilization Opportunities. This one-day training workshop and webinar was scheduled to be held in Medora, North Dakota, for Departments of Transportation (DOTs), state environmental agencies, and construction companies about the engineering, environmental, and economic benefits of using fly ash in soil stabilization applications (roads, parking lots, other construction). The survey of regulations and specifications for the use of fly ash in soil stabilization applications has been conducted, but unfortunately the workshop cannot be held at this time and has been cancelled.
Final Project Report ( PDF , 29 pp, 2.2 MB)
City and County of Denver: The Greening of Red Rocks Amphitheatre - Recycling on the Go (ROGO)
This project will assess the Red Rocks waste stream, implement a recycling program, work with vendors to minimize incoming waste, minimize incoming hazardous materials, and evaluate the feasibility of establishing a composting program for organic waste. Education materials will be developed for a future workshop to disseminate the information compiled from this effort. This effort will serve as a model for other local and national entertainment venues. Project date: 2006
Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) Sustainability Program
CDOT conducted a study and completed a review of roadway projects where alternative materials, such as asphalt, concrete, wood, metal, and scrap tires, have been successfully used in Colorado and nationwide. Results of the study provide a knowledge base for CDOT and other construction engineers, recommend specification changes to accommodate the reuse of solid waste materials, and promote flexibility in materials reuse for roadway projects. Project date: 2006
Final Project Report ( PDF )
Home Resource - A Jobs Through Recycling Project in Missoula, Montana
Home Resource (HR)
is a building materials re-use center in Missoula, MT. The center collects and sells re-usable and surplus building materials to reduce waste, conserve resources and help build healthy communities. Home Resource is expected to divert (sell) at least 300 tons of material in 2004. A flood of lumber, plumbing fixtures, cabinets, light fixtures, hardware and other materials has continued to pour into the center, exceeding the capacity of the warehouse and the current staff.
Home Resource and Opportunity Resources (OR), a non-profit that provides daily care and job-training for adults with disabilities, will collaborate on a program to employ Opportunity Resource clients to clean, repair and refurbish surplus building materials that are donated to Home Resource in marginal condition.
The worker training will increase Home Resource's capacity to divert materials from the landfill by 20% as measured by pounds per dollars in sales. A 20% increase in Home Resource capacity results in an additional 60 tons of material diverted in 2004, resulting in saved landfill space and conservation of those resources that would otherwise have gone to make new products.
Project Date: 2004
Results Summary: Recycling jobs created - 1.5 FTE. 92.9 tons of C&D material was diverted from landfills.
Center for ReSource Conservation - ReSource North; Fort Collins Colorado
A used building materials sales yard was created in Fort Collins, CO to provide a place to reuse building materials that may otherwise end up in a landfill. The sales yard also provided comprehensive training/support services for building material reuse and whole house deconstruction, and fostered new local markets for C&D materials. Tasks included material acquisition, yard setup, education and outreach, and soft strip and deconstruction.
Project Date: 2005
Final Project Report ( PDF file)
From Grassroots to Green: Recycling Coalition of Utah; Southern Utah
This project will address rural Utah recycling issues through the creation of partnerships, education and outreach and local market development. The project objectives include education and outreach for students and community on recycling practices and creating a centralized recycle collection site for several rural areas. Other objectives include assessing and creating new local markets for recycled materials. Activities will include waste stream analysis, assessing community recycling needs, community outreach/training, creating a centralized collection site for recycled materials, and share in the transportation of collected materials to nearest market. These activities will increase the volume of recycled materials and divert more materials from the landfill.
Project Date: 2005
Biofuels Project to Use Forest Waste - Nederland, Colorado
The Colorado Governor's Office of Energy Management and Conservation (OEMC) received funding to conduct a Community Biofuels Project to prove the viability of forest waste as a renewable fuel resource for the generation of electricity for use in municipal and likely residential power efforts. The location for this pilot project, the town of Nederland, is faced with the problem of disposing of significant amounts of wood waste resulting from fire mitigation efforts involving forest thinning on public and private property. The project proposed to burn this waste in a steam-powered microturbine to generate 30 kW of electricity. The town planned to use this electricity to provide power to several community buildings near the location of the microturbine. Any needed thinnings were provided by U.S. Forrest Service as part of the ongoing public lands' fire mitigation program. Colorado State Forest Service and Colorado State University, Forestry Department provided technical support on forest waste management and utilization.
Project Date: 2003
Glenwood Springs Municipal Airport - Rubber-Asphalt Pavement Project
Colorado Department of Transportation - Aeronautics Division
In a unique coordination of multiple organizations and funding sources, the Glenwood Springs Municipal Airport rubber-asphalt pavement project was completed in June 2003. The objective of the project was to improve the usability of the Airport while provide a test platform for the use of rubber-asphalt paving materials for general aviation airport maintenance.
Rubber-asphalt paving materials contain an approximate 20-25% recycled waste auto tire rubber, mixed with asphalt binders and heated to approximately 400 degrees for about an hour, in order to adhere the material to the aggregate. In the 30,000 sq. yards of pavement rehabilitation which comprised runway, taxiways and parking apron at the Glenwood Springs Municipal Airport, more than 4800 recycled tires were used.
In the past, the acute stresses placed on pavements at high-altitude Colorado airport locations have made it necessary to rehabilitate airport movement areas every two- to three-years. It is anticipated that the introduction of the rubber-asphalt materials will extend the life of the pavements for 7 to 10 years. Anticipating the long-term benefits from the use of rubber asphalt materials at similar locations statewide, the CDOT-Aeronautics Division anticipates expanding its efforts to complete like projects in the near future.
Other partners and funding sources included the Colorado Waste Tire Grant Program and the City of Glenwood Springs.
Project Date: 2003
University of Montana Dining Facility - Food Waste Composting Demonstration
The University of Montana (UM) conducted a food waste composting demonstration project. Objectives of the project included reducing landfilling, establishing costs and benefits of on-campus food waste composting, exploring the use of various bulking agents, providing opportunities for education and research, and helping evaluate whether or not a large-scale campus-wide or campus-community composting project might be worth pursuing. The final report presents information describing project initiation, project equipment and operations, initial experiences including lessons learned, outreach activities, and future plans.
Upper Arkansas Recycling in Colorado
Upper Arkansas Recycling is a five county partnership covering Lake, Custer, Chaffee, Fremont and Pueblo counties in Colorado. Due to significant growth of their regional recycling program, 25% in 2003, the participating counties and municipalities are in need of additional recycling containers for drop off locations. The containers currently on site are being filled to capacity and any overflow is going into the waste stream. Grant funds were used to purchase additional recycling containers for drop off locations in the five-county program. The resulting collection amounts by volume will be tracked and reported. Results Summary: Achieved a 20.18% increase in collection volumes attributed to the new containers; 6526.5 cubic yards of recyclables were collected throughout the Upper Arkansas Regional Recycling Program Area (consisting of newspaper, clear & amber glass, and aluminum/tin). This is a total of 980.75 cubic yards ahead of 2005.
Project Date: 2004
Chaffee County Citizens for Recycling
Rural Recycling Efforts in Colorado
In an effort to divert hundreds of tons of cardboard and paper from the Chaffee County Landfill, three recycling trailers for office pack (junk mail) and cardboard collection were placed throughout Chaffee County. The resulting collection amounts by volume will be tracked and reported. Results Summary: 243.53 tons of cardboard recycled.
Project Date: 2004