Biden-Harris Administration Invests Over $4.3 Million in California Recycling Infrastructure Through Investing in America Agenda

EPA has selected 25 communities nationwide to receive grants totaling more than $73 million under the newly created Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling funding opportunity. In addition, the agency is making available approximately $32 million for states and territories to improve solid waste management planning, data collection and implementation of plans. The grants support the implementation of EPA’s National Recycling Strategy to build an economy devoted to keeping materials, products, and services in circulation for as long as possible – what’s known as a “circular economy.”

“These innovative local government, territory and state grants will solve zero waste challenges across the Pacific Southwest,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. "EPA is proud to support these groundbreaking efforts to reduce waste, cut greenhouse gas emissions, advance environmental justice and aid the transition to a circular economy that will bring benefits for decades to come."

“I'm glad to see the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is working in California to deliver a new grant program to upgrade recycling systems that combats plastic pollution, and award our state with nearly $400,000 in federal funding to implement these advanced systems on our coasts,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar. “This investment will keep our beaches clean for families to enjoy, maintain a healthy ecosystem for marine life, and support our state's fishing industry. This is yet another example of how the landmark Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has continued to deliver on its goal to combat climate change.”

“California is grateful for U.S. EPA’s investment in organics recycling, a vital part of our climate fight,” CalRecycle Director Rachel Machi Wagoner said. “California’s building a circular economy for organic waste that turns pollution into new products, cuts climate pollution from landfills, and advances America’s clean, healthy future." 

Grants in California are:

Los Angeles County ($3,999,090): The project will support the design and construct of an anaerobic digestion facility at the Calabasas Landfill to divert organic waste, including wasted food, from landfills to reduce methane emissions. The facility will create the critical infrastructure needed to process organic waste from landfill disposal, generate beneficial products to promote a circular economy, and reduce harmful landfill greenhouse gas emissions.

CalRecycle ($370,187): CalRecycle will formulate zero waste solutions and special considerations for rural counties across the state, as part of the state’s work to develop a statewide zero waste plan. This effort will involve examining current waste management practices and local government resources in rural areas and engaging with communities to better understand the needs specific to their local economies, geography, and demographics.

President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda is growing the American economy from the bottom up and middle-out – from rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure, to driving over $470 billion in private sector manufacturing and clean energy investments in the United States, to creating a manufacturing and innovation boom powered by good paying jobs that don’t require a four-year degree, to building a clean-energy economy that will combat climate change and make our communities more resilient.

EPA’s Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grant Program is also advancing President'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.

Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grants for Communities

The recycling grants for communities will support improvements to waste management systems across the country and will range from $500,000 to $4 million per grant. Selected projects include purchasing new fleets of recycling collection vehicles and bins to provide curbside recycling services for communities currently lacking access; upgrades to material recovery facilities to reduce contamination; enhancements to composting and organics programs and infrastructure, and construction of various types of facilities that improve recycling, composting, and reuse infrastructure for materials such as plastics and food waste.

Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grants for States and Territories

The recycling grants for states and territories will provide funding to all 56 states, territories, and the District of Columbia via grants ranging from $360,000 to $750,000; with the highest grant amounts supporting those states and territories that need it the most. These grants represent important steps toward achieving the EPA’s National Recycling Goal and Food Loss and Waste Reduction Goal. Funded activities include improving post-consumer materials management programs through developing or updating solid waste management plans and strengthening data collection efforts.

Additional Background

Today’s announcement for states, territories, and communities is the first round of funding from this new grant program. In the coming months, EPA will announce the selected recipients of the recycling grants for Tribes and intertribal consortia, as well as the recipients of EPA’s new Recycling Education and Outreach grant program. 

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $275 million total from fiscal year 2022 to fiscal year 2026 for grants authorized under the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act - the largest investment in recycling in 30 years. The recycling grants are supplemented with additional funding provided through EPA’s annual appropriations. EPA has selected these entities to receive funding for recycling infrastructure projects and anticipates making all the awards announced today once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied. 

For details about the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grant Program selectees and other Bipartisan Infrastructure Law-related funding opportunities, visit the EPA recycling grants webpage.

SOURCE: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/biden-harris-administration-invests-over-43-million-california-recycling