Recycling, Waste Reduction, and Diversion Grant

    2022-2023 Grant Cycle

    The RWD Grant was announced in July 2022 and applications were accepted between August 1, 2022, and September 30, 2022.

    A total of 42 applications were received amounting to $14,765,239 in grant award requests. Each application was reviewed and scored based on overall project purpose and need, community investment, implementation plan, metrics for waste reduction, and cost effectiveness.

    The following sixteen grantees were selected for a total of $1,980,412:

    Grantee Brief Project Summary
    Bleckley County Commission 

    Equipment: Large collection bins at transfer station
    Dodge County  Infrastructure: Cardboard collection & baler facility
    City of Powder Springs  Equipment: Forklift, baler, bins
    Athens-Clarke County  Equipment: Collection vehicle & equipment for organics waste diversion
    Carroll County Board of Commissioners  Equipment: Bins, tents; Disposal fees for recycling collection
    Forsyth County Recycling and Solid Waste  Equipment: Plastics compacting and collection equipment
    City of Norcross  Household hazardous waste recycling
    Georgia State University  Equipment: Large recycling bins
    University of Georgia  Equipment: Front-end loader, software
    City of Woodstock  Household hazardous waste recycling
    Dalton Whitfield Solid Waste Authority   Infrastructure: Purchase and installation of elevated recycling sorting line
    City of Chatsworth  Infrastructure: Structure to house recycling to prevent contamination
    Murray County Government  Equipment: Collection vehicle for recycling
    Columbus Consolidated Government  Equipment: Roll-offs carts for residential recycling
    Laurens County Solid Waste Management Authority  Equipment: Roll-offs, trommel installation, mobile conveyor
    Pickens County Recycling  Equipment: Glass pulverizer to increase capacity

     

    Additional information will be posted on this site if there is additional funding for a second round of awards. 

     

    Recycling, Waste Reduction, and Diversion (RWD) Grant Program Summary

    The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) announced the Recycling, Waste Reduction, and Diversion (RWD) Grant in July 2022 as part of the Solid Waste Trust Fund (SWTF) Grant Program. The amount of available funding in the first round for state fiscal year 2023 was $2,000,000.

    The RWD Grant furthers the goals for the SWTF by providing financial support to projects in Georgia to reduce solid waste, recover valuable materials, support manufacturing, and encourage innovation.

    RWD Grants are awarded to projects that meet the criteria described in Rule 391-3-21-.17 of the Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia (Rules), which are designed to ensure that projects will demonstrate financial sustainability and quantitative results.

    Eligibility

    Eligible applicants and recipients for the RWD Grant include:

    1. Counties, municipalities, or any combination of the same, hereafter referred to as local governments
    2. Public authorities, agencies, commissions, or institutions

    Project Types

    The RWD Grant allows eligible applicants to develop project proposals that best support their communities’ needs. Projects must focus on increasing recycling, reducing waste, and/or diverting recoverable materials from the solid waste stream as described in the authorized uses of the SWTF.

    Examples of RWD Grant projects may include, but are not limited to:

    1. Recycling and Waste Diversion Infrastructure – Projects that create, expand, or improve infrastructure at materials recovery facilities (MRF), recycling transfer stations, convenience centers, or through other equipment that will increase the capacity to serve customers
    2. Hub and Spoke Development – Projects that create, expand, or improve the operation of recycling hub and spoke infrastructure, collection, distribution, and logistics
    3. Hard-to-Recycle Materials – Projects that create, expand, or improve the operation of hard-to-recycle and/or household hazardous waste recycling facilities
    4. Recovery of Additional Materials – Projects that collect and/or process new material streams
    5. Waste Reduction – Projects that create, expand, or improve programs at the local level to reduce waste
    6. Innovation – Projects that demonstrate innovative processes for waste reduction or innovative use of recycled products

    The RWD Grant will be administered according to the following schedule for FY23:

    August 1

    Application period open

    September 30

    Application submission deadline

    October – November

    Application review

    December - January

    Grant funds awarded

    February-March

    Second round of awards opens if funding is available

    RWD Grant Documents

    1. Download this pdf file. RWD Grant Guidelines
    2. Download this pdf file. RWD Grant Application
    3. Download this xls file. RWD Quarterly Report Form
    4. Download this xls file. RWD Reimbursement Request Form

    Application Instructions

    Completed applications and supporting materials may be submitted electronically through email or mailed. Applications may also be hand delivered. Applications through fax will not be accepted. 

    Mailing and Street Address:       

    Georgia Environmental Protection Division

    Recovered Materials Unit

    4244 International Parkway, Suite 104

    Atlanta, GA 30354

    [email protected]

    Grant Webinar Recordings and Presentation Slides

    Download this pdf file. RWD Grant Presentation Slides  

    RWD Grant Reporting and Invoicing Presentation

    Download this pdf file. RWD Grant Reporting and Invoicing Presentation Slides

    FAQs

    Questions should be submitted to the following email address: [email protected].

    Download this pdf file. RWD Grant FAQs - September 30, 2022