Solid Waste Infrastructure For Recycling (SWIFR) Grant Program for Political Subdivisions of States and Territories | EPA I OLEM ORCR 23 03

Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA I OLEM ORCR 23 03

The Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) Grant Program for Political Subdivisions of States and Territories is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funding opportunity intended to help communities modernize and strengthen the systems they use to manage post-consumer materials. The core aim is to build and transform local solid waste and recycling infrastructure so that more materials are prevented, reused, recycled, composted, or otherwise managed in ways that support a circular economy. By improving how materials move through local systems after consumers are done with them, the program is also designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support cleaner, healthier, and more resilient communities.

This opportunity is structured to meet applicants "where they are" and help them make meaningful, step-change improvements in their current materials management practices. Projects can focus on creating entirely new capacity, improving or optimizing existing capacity, or developing strategies and plans that are likely to increase the amount of post-consumer materials that are effectively managed. In practical terms, that can include efforts that expand recycling access, reduce contamination, improve collection and processing capability, add organics management options, or otherwise strengthen the end-to-end infrastructure that determines whether materials are wasted or recovered.

The EPA explicitly encourages applications that propose innovative solutions, especially those that expand access to services in places that currently have limited or no access to prevention, reuse, recycling, anaerobic digestion, and composting opportunities. The emphasis is not only on building facilities or buying equipment, but also on improving systems and programs in ways that measurably increase material recovery and reduce the burden of waste. The program is positioned as an infrastructure and systems transformation effort rather than a small, incremental assistance program.

A major priority embedded in the program is environmental justice. The EPA is looking for post-consumer materials management projects that predominantly address disproportionate and adverse human health, environmental, climate-related, and cumulative impacts, along with the economic challenges tied to those impacts. The solicitation highlights communities of color, low-income communities, tribal and indigenous populations, and, where applicable, other vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children, and people with pre-existing medical conditions. In effect, strong applications are expected to show how the proposed work will reduce harms and inequities linked to historical and ongoing industrial, governmental, commercial, or other actions that have affected these communities, and how improved materials management will deliver tangible benefits.

Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity from the EPA under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) funding activity area. The funding instrument type is a cooperative agreement, which generally means the EPA expects to have substantial involvement during the project period compared to a standard grant. The opportunity is listed under Assistance Listing (CFDA) number 66.920. The funding opportunity number is EPA I OLEM ORCR 23 03, and it is managed by the EPA, reflecting the agency's solid waste and materials management mission area.

Funding levels are significant at the project scale. The award ceiling is $4,000,000 per award, and the EPA anticipated making about 25 awards under this announcement. The notice was created on November 14, 2022, with an original closing date of January 16, 2023, and applicants are directed to the announcement's Section IV for detailed close-date information and any submission specifics or updates.

Eligibility is aimed at political subdivisions of states and territories, with the listing indicating "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)," meaning the detailed eligibility boundaries are defined in the full announcement. In general terms, the program is designed for governmental entities and eligible public-sector partners positioned to plan, build, and operate local and regional materials management systems. Successful projects are expected to show a clear path to increasing the management of post-consumer materials while delivering climate and community health benefits, and, where relevant, demonstrating a strong environmental justice focus that directs benefits to overburdened and underserved communities.

• The Environmental Protection Agency in the environment, infrastructure investment and jobs act (iija) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Solid Waste Infrastructure For Recycling (SWIFR) Grant Program for Political Subdivisions of States and Territories" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 66.920.
• This funding opportunity was created on Nov 14, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 16, 2023 See Section IV of the funding oppotunity announcement for close date information.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $4,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 25 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for EPA I OLEM ORCR 23 03

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