Solid Waste Management Grants from the USDA Office of Rural Development fund technical assistance and training for better planning and management of solid waste sites.
The USDA anticipates $4 million for this program, pending Congressional budget approval. There is no maximum or minimum amount and no matching requirement. Applications are due through Grants.gov by December 31, 2023 at 11:59 PM ET for projects running from October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2025.
Eligibility
Applicant
This grant is open to:
- Public bodies
- Nonprofits
- Federally recognized tribes
- Academic institutions
Applicants must have:
- Experience with a program similar to the one proposed
- The legal authority to provide training and technical assistance
Area
Grant activities must take place in a rural area or town with a population of 10,000 or less. Special consideration will be given to projects serving:
- An area with fewer than 5,500 or fewer than 2,500 people
- Regional, multi-state, or national areas
- Lower-income populations
Key Priorities
Applicants are encouraged to pursue projects that work towards:
- Economic recovery for rural communities through through market opportunities and improved infrastructure
- Ensuring that Rural Development programs are accessible and beneficial to all rural residents
- Decreasing climate pollution and increasing climate resiliency through economic support for rural communities
Allowable Expenses
Grant funds may be used to:
- Evaluate landfill conditions for potential threats to water resources
- Provide technical assistance and/or training to improve management of active landfills
- Provide technical assistance and/or training to reduce the amount of solid waste the community sends to the landfill
- Provide technical assistance and/or training to prepare for the closure and future use of a landfill site
Grant funds may not be used to:
- Duplicate, replace, or substitute for currently provided services
- Duplicate assistance provided by the U.S. Forest Service
- Pay for capital assets, real estate, or vehicles.
- Pay for construction, operation, or maintenance.
- Improve or renovate office space or repair or maintain private property
