U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7 - 11201 Renner Blvd., Lenexa, KS 66219
Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Nine Tribal Nations
Biden-Harris Administration Invests Over $600K in Nebraska 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
Contact Information: Jonathan Klusmeyer, 913-343-2991, klusmeyer.jonathan@epa.gov
LENEXA, KAN. (SEPT. 13, 2023) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced over $600,000 from President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda to expand recycling infrastructure and waste management systems across Nebraska.
EPA has selected the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy to receive grants totaling over $600,000 under the newly created Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling funding opportunity. The agency is making these funds available for Nebraska to improve solid waste management planning, data collection, and implementation of plans. Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this investment, totaling $105 million nationwide, is a part of EPA’s largest recycling investment in 30 years.
These 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.”
“Reducing waste is one very important step we can take to fight the climate crisis and ensure environmental justice in our Heartland communities,” said EPA Region 7 Administrator Meg McCollister. “Thanks to President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this funding will help our region’s states reduce gases like methane by diverting waste from landfills. These funds will also ensure that our overburdened communities get the resources needed for a cleaner and healthier environment for all.”
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 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.
Nebraska will use funds to conduct a four-season waste composition study to evaluate the characteristics of its solid waste stream. This study will be compared to the state’s 2007 waste composition study to identify and evaluate trends over time. A comprehensive report will be prepared, including data collection and analytical techniques, a waste composition profile for the state as a whole, and a summary of findings and conclusions. With this study, Nebraska will be able to quantify the impact of existing recycling programs and identify opportunities to improve waste management, including the opportunity for recyclable materials to be valued back into the marketplace. After identifying these gaps, Nebraska will develop recommendations for programs and policies that increase the diversion of materials from landfills.
These grants represent important steps toward achieving 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 a total of $275 million 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 page.
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