OEPA: Recycling and Litter Prevention Grants

The OEPA Recycling and Litter Prevention Grants offer financial support to local governments and non-profits in Ohio for projects aimed at enhancing recycling efforts and reducing litter. Eligible initiatives include purchasing recycling equipment, organizing litter clean-up events, and educational outreach. Grants range from $25,000 to $200,000, depending on the project type, and are intended to foster community engagement and sustainable waste management practices. Applications must be submitted within a specified timeframe.

Community and Litter Grant
Local governments can receive funding to purchase equipment for the collection and processing of recyclables and construction demolition debris. Communities and non-profit organizations can also receive funding to implement litter collection events, outreach and education as well as tire amnesty programs (tire amnesty programs require a minimum $0.50/tire collection fee). Grantees have 12 months to complete the project.
Eligible Projects
Grants are funded as all or nothing. No partial funding. Grants with multiple requests are scored and funded as a single application. Please only apply for needed projects.
Maximum Grant Request - $200,000
Project Examples (examples are illustrative and not all-inclusive:
Systems and individual equipment to collect and process C&DD material at the point of generation or disposal. Funding is also available for efforts related to the deconstructing of materials for re-use markets.
Maximum Grant Request - $200,000
Project Examples (examples are illustrative and not all-inclusive:

• Equipment related to the implementation of a new community curbside recycling service or an expansion of an existing program.
• Material Recovery Facility Recycling (MRF)
• Maximum Grant Request - $200,000
• Project Examples (examples are illustrative and not all-inclusive:
• The establishment of a new or expansion of an existing material recovery facility.
• Organics Recycling
• Maximum Grant Request - $200,000
• Project Examples (examples are illustrative and not all-inclusive:

Facilities capable of handling or seeking to handle food waste or other compostable material and proposing to install an in-vessel or similar processing system. The project may include ancillary equipment supporting an in-vessel composting unit.
Maximum Grant Request - $100,000
Project Examples (examples are illustrative and not all-inclusive:

• Purchase of equipment for start-up or the expansion of drop-off recycling collection programs.
• Recycling Equipment
• Maximum Grant Request - $100,000
• Project Examples (examples are illustrative and not all-inclusive:

Equipment for collecting and processing of recyclable material (for example, cardboard, glass, plastic, organics, etc.). Equipment for bagging units, balers, containers, conveyors, grinding units, in-vessel composting units, optical sorters, plastic excursion systems, printing and production materials, pulping units, screening equipment, signage, trucks, drying units.
Maximum Grant Request - $50,000
Project Examples (examples are illustrative and not all-inclusive:

• Recycling collection program targeted at sporting venues and entertainment facilities.
• Litter Clean-up Events
• Maximum Grant Request - $40,000
• Project Examples (examples are illustrative and not all-inclusive:

Equipment, materials and supplies for an on-going litter collection effort. Also, contractual costs associated with the actual collection and disposal costs of material from public land.
Maximum Grant Request - $40,000
Project Examples (examples are illustrative and not all-inclusive:
Amnesty collection of scrap tires. Applicant is required to charge a $0.50 minimum fee as part of this grant.
Maximum Grant Request - $25,000
Project Examples (examples are illustrative and not all-inclusive:

• Creating new or updating current recycling and litter prevention education and training materials.
• Contamination Reduction
• Maximum Grant Request - $50,000
• Project Examples (examples are illustrative and not all-inclusive:

Materials for communities to engage residents through a cart tagging program directly and indirectly to change the curbside recycling behavior of those contaminating the recycling stream (mailers, tags, tracking apps, etc.).
Maximum Grant Request - $25,000
Project Examples (examples are illustrative and not all-inclusive:

• Surveillance cameras for litter law enforcement efforts.
• Conference Sponsorships and Assistance
• Maximum Grant Request - $3,000
• Project Examples (examples are illustrative and not all-inclusive:
• Conference room rental, AV equipment, printing production, registration materials, name badges, agendas, conference registration software.
• KAB Certification Fee
• Maximum Grant Request - $4,500
• Project Examples (examples are illustrative and not all-inclusive:
• Certification fee for Keep America/Ohio Beautiful.
• KAB Annual Renewal Fee
• Maximum Grant Request - $575
• Project Examples (examples are illustrative and not all-inclusive:
• Renewal fee for Keep America/Ohio Beautiful.
• Multiple Grant Requests
• A single application may have multiple grant requests if:

requested total amount equals $100,000 or less;does not include C&DD and deconstruction, curbside, MRF or organics recycling;KAB certification and KAB renewal cannot be requested together.

Eligibility

Provided they are in good financial standing with the State and have no outstanding environmental compliance issues, the following Ohio groups are eligible to apply: counties; health departments; municipal corporations; non-profits; park districts; private sector businesses; private universities; public universities; solid waste management authorities and districts; state agencies; townships; and villages. Groups in italics may require a public sponsor. Allowable costs:Equipment Purchase of equipment.Purchase or rental of equipment, tools and suppliesor litter cleanups. Safety and awareness signage.Other (Goods and Services)Disposal fees for litter and tire amnesty collection projects. Produce, print, and distribute of advertising and awareness materials. Purchase litter clean-up awareness items such as tshirts, etc.Purchase tools and supplies necessary to implement the project. Site improvements directly related to projects. Sponsorships.Personal Services ContractContracts covering the costs necessary for services of public or private contractors. Such costs shall not include salaries or benefits of existing or in-house employees.

Ineligibility

Grant funds will be used to supplement but not replace existing funds. Costs that are not reimbursable with grant funds include, but are not limited to:costs excluded by ORC 3736 or not identified under Allowable Costs;employees’ salaries, benefits or administrative costs;financial services and grant writing fees;food or entertainment expenses, including procurement of coolers, grills, etc.;fuel for transportation or equipment;land acquisition;materials not generally found in the municipal solid waste stream;payment to individuals, crews, or organizations to pick up litter;projects conducted on private property;recycling of hazardous waste;website development and maintenance.