Biden-Harris Administration Announces More than $11 Million in EPA Region 5 for Tribal Recycling Infrastructure Projects and Recycling Education and Outreach Grants as Part of America

On America Recycles Day and Anniversary of President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA announces grants funded in part by the largest recycling investment in 30 years

November 15, 2023

CHICAGO (Nov. 15, 2023) – Today, in conjunction with America Recycles Day, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced seven selectees to receive over $6 million in Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling grants for Tribes and Intertribal Consortia, and three selectees to receive over $4.5 million in Recycling Education and Outreach grants. These grants, which are part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, a key pillar of Bidenomics, will expand recycling infrastructure and education for waste management systems across the region.

“Today, on America Recycles Day, we are putting historic recycling investments into communities, made possible by President Biden’s Investing in America agenda,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Two years ago today, the President signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and with it, unleashed unprecedented funding to enable Tribes and communities to update recycling and composting infrastructure, while also advancing education programs to increase recycling rates and reduce waste.”
 

“Research shows that more than 22 million pounds of plastic pollution end up in the Great Lakes every year,” said EPA Region 5 Administrator Debra Shore. “Thanks to the historic recycling infrastructure investments being announced today, Great Lakes Tribal and local partners will be supported in improving their recycling infrastructure and enhancing public education so that we can better protect all of our natural resources.”

These recycling grants will help tackle consumer confusion and outdated recycling infrastructure, the largest barriers to proper recycling. Thanks to President Biden’s historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which was signed two years ago today, EPA was provided the largest recycling investment in 30 years that is funding these two new programs.

These grants reflect the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to tackling environmental justice and the climate crisis. Many communities with environmental justice concerns carry a disproportionate environmental and human health burden from waste management. As part of President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, 100% of the funding allocated in EPA’s SWIFR for Tribes grants and 74% of the funding allocated in the REO grants will benefit underserved and overburdened communities. Increasing recycling is also an important way to reduce pollution because natural resource extraction and processing make up half of all global greenhouse gas emissions that drive the climate crisis. Recycling reduces the need to extract resources such as timber, water, and minerals for new products.

Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grants for Tribes and Intertribal Consortia

 The SWIFR grants for Tribes and Intertribal Consortia will enable Tribes to make improvements to their recycling and waste management systems, meeting Congress’ goal to create a stronger, more resilient, and cost-effective U.S. municipal solid waste recycling system. EPA Region 5 has announced seven selectees to receive $6,246,606 through the program. They include:

• Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa (Minnesota) has been selected to receive $1,500,000. The Tribe will establish a recycling and compost facility and solid waste transfer station that would accept a variety of materials from band members. The recycling and compost facility will focus on end-market users where waste tires, plastics, aluminum, cardboard, film plastics and other materials can be prepared by the Band, and moved to market directly, supporting improvements to local post-consumer materials management and implementing strategies on building a circular economy. This project will allow the Band to expand their recycling and composting capabilities.
• Bay Mills Indian Community (Michigan) has been selected to receive $970,000. The Tribe will increase recycling and waste diversion rates and reduce contamination. The project seeks to do so through the construction of a new waste transfer station, purchase of supplies and equipment, and working with consultants to implement staff training and recycling programs throughout BMIC. The objective is to expand materials management infrastructure, create accessible recycling infrastructure, and reduce the rate of contamination within the recycling streams.
• Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians (Michigan) has been selected to receive $1,084,454 to increase its post-consumer materials management, including the diversion of municipal solid waste from the landfill, and improve and expand recycling and food waste operations. To achieve these goals, the Tribe will update the Integrated Waste Management Plan; develop the GLC Sustainability Department to improve, implement and manage sustainability initiatives; expand and improve the Gun Lake Casino (GLC) food waste management/diversion through the operation of a large-scale food waste digester; and develop plans for a recycling center. Implementation of the objectives will reduce organic materials and recyclables going to local landfills as well as identify source reduction opportunities.
• Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa (Wisconsin) has been selected to receive $396,732. The Tribe has maintained a Transfer Station and Recycling Center since 1997. With a variety of pressures such as, an increasing Tribal population, finite landfills, and limited markets and vendors due to remote location, costs of removing solid waste and recycling continue to increase. By adding a reuse center and education tools, upgrading equipment, and expanding the operation area, the Transfer Station can provide adequate recycling services; decrease illegal dumping; encourage reuse of items, which lowers hauler costs; promote proper recycling; and ensure safety of staff and users onsite.
• Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians (Michigan) has been selected to receive $240,000 to promote source reduction and increase waste diversion rates throughout the Little Traverse Bay Bands community. The project seeks to purchase reuse infrastructure to increase source reduction at the LTBB Pow Wow Grounds, develop compost and recycling educational materials, and expand waste diversion and collection. Through these tasks, the Tribe will improve source reduction and waste diversion.
• Forest County Potawatomi Community (Wisconsin) has been selected to receive $555,564. The Tribe’s Recycling Infrastructure Expansion Project will expand its solid waste collection infrastructure and capacity by purchasing additional recycling collection and transport vehicles and strengthening the social infrastructure of the Tribal community through vigorous outreach and education to foster positive consumer behaviors.
• Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan (Michigan) has been selected to receive $1,499,856 to increase its capacity to collect recycled materials. The Tribe works with local efforts to accomplish short-term and long-term collection goals of surrounding counties. The project will also sustain partnership efforts locally by securing needed equipment and supplies to manage forecasted increase of collected recycling materials. These objectives will be sought by planning a project to enhance recycling information, increase drop-off and pick-up locations and spread recycling awareness efforts through education to the community.

To learn more about the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling for Tribes and Intertribal Consortia funding, please visit: EPA’s Recipients and Selectees webpage

Recycling Education and Outreach Grants

The Recycling Education and Outreach grant projects will help inform the public about local recycling and composting programs and focus on increasing collection rates and decreasing contamination of recycling streams across the nation. EPA has announced three selectees to receive $4,756,834 in Recycling Education and Outreach grants. They include:

• Metropolitan Mayors Caucus in Illinois has been selected to receive $2,000,000 to lead a broadly collaborative recycling outreach and education campaign for northeastern Illinois to serve 275 municipalities and seven counties. The campaign will leverage expertise and knowledge of solid waste agencies, counties, and recycling organizations to effectively educate residents.
• Michigan Recycling Coalition has been selected to receive $1,821,887 to develop and deliver a comprehensive, best practice education and outreach program to train targeted recycling professionals to learn about and develop CBSM-based education strategies. Using the EPA developed model recycling program toolkit and other available resources, MRC will assemble, add to, and deliver curated education and outreach tools, strategies, training, and resources in conjunction with one-to-one direct assistance to Michigan disadvantaged and rural communities as identified in the Climate and Economic Justice Screening tool. MRC will also deliver nationally certified training to recycling professionals and targeted workshops to organics operators, generators, and users; train trainers to deliver Master Recycler & Master Composter training in communities to develop local expertise and outreach capacity; and develop and deliver recycling education to Michigan businesses.
• Minnesota Composting Council has been selected to receive $934,947 to develop a toolkit that can be used by communities around the state and nationwide to increase participation and decrease contamination in their residential drop-off or curbside organics recycling programs. The toolkit will include customizable templates to promote organics recycling programs, best management practices documents for promotions, and measuring and reducing contamination. A library of photos and videos showcasing accepted materials and the composting processes at the source-separated organics composting facilities in Minnesota will also be a toolkit component.
   

To learn more about the Recycling Education and Outreach funding, please visit: EPA’s Recipients and Selectees webpage.

America Recycles Day

Today marks the 29th America Recycles Day, the second anniversary of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the second anniversary of EPA’s National Recycling Strategy. The National Recycling Strategy was the first in a series of EPA strategies devoted to building a circular economy – one that reduces material use, redesigns materials, products, and services to be less resource intensive, and recaptures “waste” as a resource to manufacture new materials and products.

To build upon the goals of the recycling strategy, EPA released the Draft National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution for public comment in April. The Draft Strategy outlines steps to reduce pollution during production, improve management of plastic materials throughout product lifecycles, and encourage actions to keep plastics out of national waterways and the environment. Future strategies will address food waste and electronics.

EPA also recently announced over $105 million for the selectees of the historic SWIFR grants for states and communities. These improvements will support a circular economy and help lower greenhouse gas emissions as more efficient waste management systems are key to reducing energy consumption and the need for raw materials, while rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure, powered by well-paying jobs that don’t require four-year degrees.

Visit EPA’s website to learn more ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle. 

EPA offers many free, online resources, including:

• Model Recycling Toolkit. 

• Composting Food Scraps in Your Community: A Social Marketing Toolkit.
• Wasted Food Scale: Updated Recommendations.
• Standardized Terms for Materials Accepted by Municipal Recycling Programs.
• Creating Messages that Drive Behavior Change.
• Recycling Infrastructure and Market Opportunities Map.

Learn more about America Recycles Day.