Indiana Community Recycling Grant Program

Indiana Community Recycling Grant Program is sponsored by Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM). This program offers grant funds to assist communities' efforts to increase recycling and waste reduction.

Recycle Indiana: Indiana Community Recycling Grant Program Indiana Community Recycling Grant Program The next funding round for the Community Recycling Grant Program will be Spring or Summer 2027 The Community Recycling Grant Program (CRGP) is authorized to provide grants by IC 13-20-22 .

The program is funded through the State Solid Waste Management Fund, which generates revenue through a 50¢ per ton surcharge fee at final disposal facilities within Indiana. Projects that can be funded under this program include: education and promotion of recycling, organics management (including yard waste management and composting), and household hazardous waste (HHW) collection and disposal.

Eligible candidates may seek a grant ranging from $1,000 to $100,000, with a 25% required cash match. Closed. Next grant round will open Spring or Summer 2027.

The CRGP Guidelines [PDF] give detailed eligibility requirements, timeline, and scoring matrix for each application question. It is recommended the guidelines are reviewed before submitting. For the highlights of the CRGP Guidelines, click on the tabs below.

Eligible and Ineligible Applicants Eligible and Ineligible Funding Cost Solid waste management districts (SWMDs) Nonprofit organizations located in Indiana State agencies are not directly eligible for grants from IDEM. (State agencies may be partners in projects with a solid waste management district or a local unit of government.)

Eligibility Guidelines for Repeat Applicants Applicants who have previously received funding under the Community Recycling Grant Program must not have: Any unresolved compliance issues identified by IDEM, such as any overdue grant reports, close-out documents, or refunds or reversions owed to the state, at the time of application submission. An open Community Recycling Grant.

All projects should accomplish one of the following: Start or expand a recycling, source reduction, reuse, or composting program. Offer a new service, collect a new material, and/or serve a new area through the establishment of a new permanent service.

Improve efficiency and sustainability over current program practices through increased volumes of materials collected, and better processing of materials, cost savings, and resource conservation. Funding is available for expenses related to the startup or expansion of recycling, reuse, composting, Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection or disposal, and source reduction programs.

Eligible expenses include: Purchase of recycling equipment such as balers and compactors. Organics management equipment including chippers and leaf collectors/vacuums. Recycling collection vehicles, such as a curbside recycling truck.

Educational materials to inform new and existing participants. Funding for HHW projects will be used toward proper collection and disposal methods of HHW, establishment of reuse and product exchanges to reduce the quantity of HHW being disposed of, and education programs to reduce the quantity of HHW generated by informing the public of less hazardous and/or nontoxic substitutes for typical household hazardous products.

Funding is not available for projects that involve municipal solid waste disposal or stray from the original mission of waste reduction or diversion from final disposal. These expenses will not be funded through the Community Recycling Grant Program: Permanent structures or site improvements may be approved for use as cash match on a case-by-case basis.

Vehicles that can be used for more than a specific recycling use, such as a box truck, passenger truck, etc. Leasing of equipment or property. Ongoing program costs such as salaries, recycling contracts, and vehicle maintenance. Personnel expenses, except where contracted as professional fees.

Professional fees will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. An example of an approved professional fee is HHW disposal. Computer hardware and software apart from software that is specifically 100% source reduction and recycling focused.

Administrative expenses, including accounting and grant administration. Contractor labor, set-up, and preparation charges. Food, beverages, and party supplies.

Cash payments such as gift cards. Grant application preparation and submittal expenses. These expenses will not be funded through the Community Recycling Grant Program, with the exception of public education and promotion activities that include information on source reduction and recycling: Illegal dumping cleanups.

Litter and tire cleanup projects. All grant applications must document a 25 percent cash match per project item. Matching contributions must be cash expenditures and must be made during the term of the grant agreement.

A cash match may be supplied from other entities except for state resources A completed final grant application must be received by the application due date posted, which includes the following: Include proof of funding for the entire project cost from the organization's financial officer (e.g., Controller, Clerk-Treasurer, or Chief Financial Officer).

Acceptable documentation must include a letter of funding allocation, an organizational budget sheet for the applicable fiscal year, or financial statements. Quotes for service and equipment. Each budget item requires a quote.

All quotes must be recent, no older than three months as of the application deadline. If a quote is not available, provide an explanation of how the listed cost was determined. Include a copy of your organization’s W9 and Direct Deposit (State Form #47551) forms.

These documents are used to verify that the account information the State has on file is accurate. Forms can be found at: www. in.

gov/comptroller/forms/ . Any supporting documentation (letters of support, partnership agreements, location maps, etc.) Solid waste management districts only must also include a copy of the most recent financial report. The review committee will score applications based on the responses to each section listed in the CRGP guidelines and the maximum points per criterion.

Before starting the application review the CRGP guidelines in full and reference the scoring matrix. The following are CRGP timeline highlights. For the full timeline, visit the CRGP guidelines .

Applications Accepted: May 18, 2025 – June 26, 2026 Grant Award Notifications Sent – all applicants will be notified regarding the status of funding: By December 4, 2026 Grant Agreements drafted, reviewed, executed: The grant is executed once all parties sign the grant agreement.

This step must be completed before any approved project expenses can be purchased: January – April 2027 AWARDED FUNDS CANNOT BE SPENT UNTIL THE GRANT IS EXECUTED. PLAN NOT START YOUR PROJECT UNTIL THIS TIME: April 2027 Informal determinations of eligibility for grant funding are available at any time by phone or e-mail from the Grant Manager.

Informal eligibility determinations will be based on the potential applicant’s description of the proposed project and are not binding. For answers to any questions regarding the submittal requirements and/or application deadlines, or issues with submitting please contact the Grant Manager at: CRGP@idem. IN.

gov or (800) 451-6027 . The Grants Dashboard is an interactive map displaying all IDEM Recycling Grants. This map allows you to search by project type, county, entity, and grant program type.

Each November, the Community Recycling Grant Program issues an annual report on program funding and awards.

An archive of these reports is available for inspection: 2024 Community Recycling and Household Hazardous Waste Grant Program Annual Report [PDF] 2023 Community Recycling and Household Hazardous Waste Grant Program Annual Report [PDF] 2022 Community Recycling and Household Hazardous Waste Grant Program Annual Report [PDF] 2021 Community Recycling and Household Hazardous Waste Grant Program Annual Report [PDF] 2020 Community Recycling and Household Hazardous Waste Grant Program Annual Report [PDF] 2019 Community Recycling and Household Hazardous Waste Grant Program Annual Report [PDF] Find out about composting Find out about household hazardous waste Dispose of unwanted medicines properly Get Recycle Guys artwork and publications More IN.

gov Online Services Indiana Department of Environmental Management Submit General Questions or Comments Report Environmental Emergencies and Spills (24 Hours a Day/7 Days a Week) File an Environmental Complaint Central Office Phone: (317) 232-8603 Toll Free: (800) 451-6027 (within Indiana) Hours: 8:30 a. m. - 4:00 p.

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