The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is pleased to announce the availability of $1.5 million in grant funding for technical assistance for Connecticut municipalities and regions through the Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) Grant program to help municipalities and regional waste authorities evaluate interest and identify governance to form new or expand existing regional waste authorities and engage in planning activities for diversion programs and infrastructure development.
Donor Name: Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP)
State: Connecticut
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 03/31/2023
Size of the Grant: $1.5 million
Details:
Supporting municipalities that want to pursue forming regional waste authorities will help to alleviate the state’s waste disposal crisis by creating the framework and structure needed to develop and implement recycling and organics diversion programs, and/or establish new solid waste infrastructure to improve the state’s self-sufficiency and help to advance the statewide 60% diversion rate set forth in the Comprehensive Materials Management Strategy (CMMS).
Preference will be given to proposals from coalitions of municipalities, or existing regional waste authorities, which have the potential to include the largest number of municipalities or municipalities with the largest volume of waste generated.
In addition, RWAs can offer a range of services for member towns, including:
- Managing hauler registration and fee collection on behalf of member towns
- Assisting municipalities with filing required reports to DEEP
- Managing public outreach and education programs
- Implementing recycling and diversion programs
- Facilitating household hazardous waste programs
- Negotiating regional agreements for household hazardous waste, textile, and other recycling programs
- Applying for grants to offset costs for member towns
- Funding recycling coordinators and other services shared by member towns
Eligible Proposals
Eligible proposals will support formation, or expansion, of regional waste authorities that contribute to reducing MSW generation, increasing diversion and collection/processing of recyclables and organic materials, increasing in-state solid waste disposal capacity, and providing efficient and streamlined services and administrative capacity for their member municipalities.
Eligible Expenses
- Technical assistance (e.g., identifying potential services provided by the RWA; providing inventory and evaluation of infrastructure and service needs in the region)
- Legal assistance (e.g., determining governance structure; preparing legal documents including memorandums of understanding/agreement, bylaws, municipal resolutions/ordinances)
- Administrative costs (approved by DEEP to be prudent and reasonable for project implementation
Eligible Applicants
- To be eligible for SMM RWA Grant funding, Applicant must be a Connecticut municipality, a group of Connecticut municipalities, or a Connecticut regional entity (council of governments, regional planning agencies, resource recovery authority, recycling operating committees, or other entity representing Connecticut municipalities).
- Municipal applicants are encouraged, but not required, to join the Connecticut Coalition for Sustainable Materials Management (CCSMM), which makes available information, resources, technical assistance and networking for municipal members. Municipal applicants are also encouraged, but not required, to participate in Sustainable CT to take advantage of additional sustainable materials management support, resources, and funding.
For more information, visit Regional Waste Authority Grant.
