Recycling Infrastructure Receives $100 Million Boost Through Biden-Harris Investing in America Agenda

In a stride towards bolstering America's recycling infrastructure, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced an investment of over $100 million from President Biden's Investing in America agenda.

This funding is earmarked for expanding recycling infrastructure and waste management systems nationwide, marking the EPA's most substantial investment in the arena in three decades.

The announcement, aimed at states, territories and communities, signals the inaugural round of funding from this new grant program. In the forthcoming months, the EPA is set to unveil the chosen recipients of recycling grants for Tribes and intertribal consortia, as well as the awardees of the EPA's Recycling Education and Outreach grant program.

The funding springs from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which allocates $275 million from fiscal year 2022 to fiscal year 2026 for grants authorized under the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act. This legislation represents the most significant commitment to recycling in the past 30 years and is bolstered by additional funding from EPA's annual appropriations. The EPA willl applicants for recycling infrastructure projects and anticipates distributing all announced awards once legal and administrative prerequisites are met.

Twenty-five communities have been selected to receive grants exceeding $73 million through the newly established Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling funding opportunity. Simultaneously, the agency is making approximately $32 million available to states and territories to enhance solid waste management planning, data collection, and the implementation of these plans.

These grants are integral to the realization of EPA's National Recycling Strategy, which envisions a circular economy dedicated to extending the life of materials, products, and services.

EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan expressed in a statement, "By investing in better recycling, EPA is deploying resources to provide recycling services across the country, including in disadvantaged communities, while preventing waste that contributes to the climate crisis, supporting local economies, and creating good-paying jobs."

President Biden's Investing in America Agenda is a cornerstone of his administration's economic strategy, focusing on revitalizing the American economy, promoting clean energy investments and fostering job creation, according to the administration. This initiative is aligned with the President's Justice40 Initiative, with a significant portion of the funding directed towards projects benefiting marginalized communities.

The recycling grants for communities will underpin enhancements in waste management systems, with grant amounts ranging from $500,000 to $4 million. These projects encompass acquiring new fleets of recycling collection vehicles, upgrading material recovery facilities, improving composting and organics programs, and constructing facilities to enhance recycling, composting and reuse infrastructure.

In parallel, recycling grants for states and territories will fund all 56 states, territories and the District of Columbia. These grants, ranging from $360,000 to $750,000, will prioritize states and territories with the greatest need. The funds will facilitate the development or update of solid waste management plans and bolster data collection efforts, further advancing the EPA's National Recycling Goal and Food Loss and Waste Reduction Goal.