Description
The Solid Waste Management Grant Program is designed to assist communities by awarding grant funding to qualified organizations that provide technical assistance and training to help reduce or eliminate the pollution of water resources and improve planning and management of solid waste sites in rural areas. The program is administered by the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Key aspects of the program include:
• Evaluating current landfill conditions to determine threats to water resources
• Providing technical assistance and/or training to enhance operator skills in the operation and maintenance of active landfills
• Providing technical assistance and/or training to help communities reduce the solid waste stream
• Providing technical assistance and/or training for operators of landfills which are closed or will be closed in the near future
The grant funds may not be used for certain purposes, such as recruiting applications for the Agency's water and waste loan and/or grant program, duplicating current services, or funding political or lobbying activities.
Eligible applicants include private nonprofit organizations, public bodies, federally acknowledged or State-recognized Native American tribes or groups, and academic institutions.
The application and review process involves submitting a complete application package, which will be evaluated competitively based on criteria such as project area, applicant experience, and population of the proposed area to be served.