Biden-Harris Administration Invests Close to $700,000 in Arizona Recycling Infrastructure Through Investing in America Agenda
EPA grants funded in part by largest recycling investment in 30 years under President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
SAN FRANCISCO – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $693,192 from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to expand recycling infrastructure and waste management systems across Arizona. With this grant, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality will develop a statewide solid waste and materials management plan, including a plan to support recycling in rural areas. The state will also create interactive maps that highlight organizations across the state working to reduce, recycle, and compost various material streams.
EPA has selected 25 communities nationwide to receive grants totaling more than $73 million under the newly created Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling funding opportunity. In addition, the agency is making available approximately $32 million for states and territories to improve solid waste management planning, data collection and implementation of plans. The grants support the implementation of EPA’s National Recycling Strategy to build an economy devoted to keeping materials, products, and services in circulation for as long as possible – what’s known as a “circular economy.”
“These innovative local government, territory and state grants will solve zero waste challenges across the Pacific Southwest,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. "EPA is proud to support these groundbreaking efforts to reduce waste, cut greenhouse gas emissions, advance environmental justice and aid the transition to a circular economy that will bring benefits for decades to come."
U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema said: “My bipartisan infrastructure law continues to deliver meaningful, lasting results for Arizona. I'm proud to announce today’s funding from the law will improve waste management systems for Arizona cities and towns – helping ensure a healthier environment and stronger economy for Arizona communities.”
Arizona Department of Environmental Quality Waste Programs Division Director Laura Malone said: "Arizona's four-decade-old waste management plan has witnessed our state's incredible growth, advancing perceptions on waste reduction and groundbreaking technologies that transformed our waste strategies. This new grant empowers us to modernize our approach, prioritizing source identification and waste reduction through economic incentives, fresh scientific insights and strategic partnerships for Arizona's continued growth and prosperity."
President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda is growing the American economy from the bottom up and middle-out – from rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure, to driving over $470 billion in private sector manufacturing and clean energy investments in the United States, to creating a manufacturing and innovation boom powered by good paying jobs that don’t require a four-year degree, to building a clean-energy economy that will combat climate change and make our communities more resilient.
EPA’s Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grant Program is also advancing President's Justice40 Initiative, which aims to ensure that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved, and overburdened by pollution. Approximately $56 million out of the $73 million – or 76% - of the total funding for communities will go toward projects that benefit disadvantaged communities.
Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grants for Communities
The recycling grants for communities will support improvements to waste management systems across the country and will range from $500,000 to $4 million per grant. Selected projects include purchasing new fleets of recycling collection vehicles and bins to provide curbside recycling services for communities currently lacking access; upgrades to material recovery facilities to reduce contamination; enhancements to composting and organics programs and infrastructure, and construction of various types of facilities that improve recycling, composting, and reuse infrastructure for materials such as plastics and food waste.
Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grants for States and Territories
The recycling grants for states and territories will provide funding to all 56 states, territories, and the District of Columbia via grants ranging from $360,000 to $750,000; with the highest grant amounts supporting those states and territories that need it the most. These grants represent important steps toward achieving the EPA’s National Recycling Goal and Food Loss and Waste Reduction Goal. Funded activities include improving post-consumer materials management programs through developing or updating solid waste management plans and strengthening data collection efforts.
Additional Background
Today’s announcement for states, territories, and communities is the first round of funding from this new grant program. In the coming months, EPA will announce the selected recipients of the recycling grants for Tribes and intertribal consortia, as well as the recipients of EPA’s new Recycling Education and Outreach grant program.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $275 million total from fiscal year 2022 to fiscal year 2026 for grants authorized under the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act - the largest investment in recycling in 30 years. The recycling grants are supplemented with additional funding provided through EPA’s annual appropriations. EPA has selected these entities to receive funding for recycling infrastructure projects and anticipates making all the awards announced today once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied. For details about the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grant Program selectees and other Bipartisan Infrastructure Law-related funding opportunities, visit the EPA recycling grants webpage.
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