Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) issued a Request for Applications (RFA) for approximately $40 million in discretionary grant funding for FY 2023 through its Solid Waste Infrastructure For Recycling (SWIFR) Grant Program for Political Subdivisions of States and Territories. This is the second round of funding for this grant program. The final RFA was released on November 14, 2022 and remains open through January 16, 2023.
The SWIFR grant program funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) is a historic investment in the health, equity, and resilience of American communities. The unprecedented funding provided by the BIL through the SWIFR grants will assist local waste management authorities by supporting improvements to local post-consumer materials management, including municipal recycling programs, and assisting local waste management authorities in making improvements to local waste management systems. The SWIFR grant program provides a critical opportunity to fund a range of high impact projects to increase recycling, reduce contamination, and promote a circular economy for sustainable materials management by making much-needed investments in solid waste management infrastructure. This RFA has the following goals: fund a range of projects that will help local governments and communities advance from “where they are” to significantly transform their post-consumer materials management infrastructure; fund projects that will result in a significant decrease in the generation of MSW and/or an increase in the diversion of MSW from landfills and incineration; and fund innovative solutions and programs that provide or increase access to prevention, reuse, mechanical recycling, anaerobic digestion, and composting. This program aims to deliver 40 percent of the overall benefits of climate, clean energy, affordable and sustainable housing, clean water, and other investments to disadvantaged communities....
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