Biden-Harris Administration Invests More Than $4.5 Million in Minnesota Recycling Infrastructure Projects Through Investing in America Agenda
EPA grants funded in part by largest recycling investment in 30 years under President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
CHICAGO (Sept. 13, 2023) –- Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced more than $4.5 million from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to expand recycling infrastructure and waste management systems across Minnesota.
EPA has selected the City of Minneapolis to receive a $4 million grant under the newly created Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling funding opportunity. In addition, the agency is making available approximately $511,502to improve solid waste management planning, data collection and implementation of plans. Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this investment is a part of EPA’s largest recycling investment in 30 years.
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.”
“President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda tackles our most pressing environmental challenges including climate change and lead in drinking water, and today we add another historic investment to better manage waste in communities across America,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “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 provides historic levels of funding for programs to tackle climate change and advance environmental justice,” said EPA Region 5 Administrator Debra Shore. “The Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling program will support states throughout the Great Lakes region as they help our communities more sustainably manage waste.”
“Improving how we manage our waste is critical if we want to ensure a clean environment for ourselves and future generations,” said Sen. Tina Smith. “These investments will help redevelop the residential waste disposal and resource recovery site in Minneapolis, which will help the city safely recover more recyclable and reusable materials.”
“Improving recycling systems is a huge area of opportunity for communities across America,” said Rep. Betty McCollum. “Implementing the National Recycling Strategy—which I supported through the Appropriations Committee in past Congresses—will help reduce pollution and build a sustainable circular economy. I’m proud that we’re delivering this Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to advance recycling plans across Minnesota.”
“I am thrilled about this investment from the EPA, which will help address contamination risks, improve equity, and increase recovery of recyclable and reusable materials in my district, particularly the Northside,” said Rep. Ilhan Omar. “Addressing the waste crisis is critical to addressing the climate crisis and is integral to racial justice and a clean, equitable future. I’m proud to continue to partner with federal, state and city leaders to pursue efforts to reduce waste, including my Zero Waste Act.”
“Pollution caused by post-consumer waste is one of the worst environmental crises in decades, yet across the country, people remain confused about how to dispose of materials responsibly and much of our recycling infrastructure is outdated.” said Rep. Dean Phillips. “That’s why I am thrilled that Minnesota will be receiving over $500,000 in funds as part of the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support improvements to local post-consumer materials management and recycling programs.”
“With the help of this $4 million grant, we will bring new, critical City services closer to home for many Northside and Northeast residents,” said Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. “The North Transfer Station will help Minneapolis be a cleaner and more sustainable city – allowing us to reach our zero-waste goals and divert items like clothing, excess recycling, mattresses, and home construction debris out of landfills. Thank you to the Biden-Harris Administration and the EPA for this grant award.”
“We are committed to making recycling and composting as convenient as possible for residents around Minnesota, including the Twin Cities Metro area, where we need more work to reach our goal of a 75% recycling rate,” said Kirk Koudelka, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency assistant commissioner for land policy and strategic initiatives. “This requires collaboration among local governments, residents, and businesses. Federal grant funding plays an important role in reducing the amount of wasted food and trash sent to landfills each year and protecting our air, land, and water.”
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. Minnesota’s selected projects include:
- $4 million for the City of Minneapolis: Minneapolis will redevelop the city’s North Transfer Station into a new residential self-haul resource recovery and waste disposal site, the first of its kind in this disadvantaged community.
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. Minnesota will conduct a waste sort and contract for data engineering expertise to improve data infrastructure for solid waste data reported to the state.
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.