Waste Tire Grants

The Waste Tire Grant Program, administered by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, supports local governments and schools in purchasing tire-derived products made from recycled materials. Eligible projects must use at least 50% waste tire material. Applicants must be in good standing, comply with safety regulations, and meet match requirements. The program aims to promote sustainable practices and enhance playground safety through the use of innovative materials derived from waste tires.

The Bureau of Waste Management (BWM) administers a number of grant programs related to household hazardous waste, solid waste, and waste tire products.
Purpose
The purpose of the Waste Tire Grant Program is to provide financial assistance to local units of government and public and private schools to purchase tire-derived products made from recycled waste tires including playground cover, mulching products and molded or extruded rubber products.
Eligible Projects
Waste tire derived products composed of multiple materials must be no less than 50% waste tire material by weight, unless composed of other recycled material.

Eligibility

Who Can ApplyOnly Kansas’s local units of government and public and private schools may apply for these grants. This includes counties, municipalities, school districts, private schools (limited to K-12), townships, park districts.Previous recipients may apply.The applicant must be in good standing:If the applicant owns or operates a solid waste disposal facility, all solid waste tonnage permit fees must be current and paid.Grantee shall obtain all necessary and applicable permits, and comply with all applicable federal, state and local statutes regarding solid wastes, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission guidelines for Public Playground Safety.A prior grant recipient must not have utilized grant funds for an unauthorized purpose.By accepting the grant, the grantee certifies that the project is ADA compliant, or that is part of an overall facilities system that provides ADA access and compliance pursuant to all local, state and federal requirements.Prior grants must be closed, or a status report of the project must be submitted with the application.The grantee is required to carry property insurance (not to be confused with liability insurance), which would replace grant funded items destroyed by weather, vandalism, fire.Match RequirementIf awarded, the grant will pay up to 50% of the eligible cost in the awarded project; the match requirement is a minimum of 50% of the total project. Eligible Items that can be used as “In-Kind Match”Salaries of employees only working on the grant projectVolunteer hours at the rate of $12.00/hourManagement/Design donated for assistance with project planning, design, finance, legal affairs, marketing, engineering and environmental evaluations, during the grant fiscal reimbursement contract dates, will be considered volunteer labor.Base preparation and drainage under rubber playground surfacing.Loose-fill installation costs.Use of equipment and labor for installation purposes only.Shipping expenses (cash match).Travel if the grantee is picking up the product.Eligible Items that can be purchased using Grant FundingTire derived products.Shipping expenses.Supplies such as color, binder or coating.Installation costs of pour-in-place and unitary playground surfacing only (not rubber mulch).

Ineligibility

Items NOT Eligible for Match or Grant ReimbursementThe cost of preparing the grant and permit applications.Permit fees.Travel costs – except for picking up the grant product.Athletic field surfacing.General operation and maintenance costs of an existing or proposed facility.Federal and State grants or donated funds from other sources.Cost of removal of old playground equipment or installation of new playground equipment.