Photo courtesy of Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), in collaboration with The Recycling Partnership, Washington, has announced a third phase of grants available for Michigan communities to improve residential recycling.
This third phase builds on two previous phases of collaborative grant projects between The Recycling Partnership and EGLE. Since 2019, these projects have assisted more than 200 communities throughout Michigan seeking to improve residential recycling and reduce contamination by as much as 50 percent.
In total, $800,000 will be available for Michigan communities to introduce community projects aimed at reducing contamination and improving the quality of materials recycled at curbside, drop-off locations or multifamily properties.
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All Michigan community recycling programs are eligible to apply for grants proposing up to $4 per household for curbside programs and up to $3 per household for drop-off programs.
Eligible expenses that can be paid for by the grants include:
- staff for project implementation;
- infrastructure needs;
- printing and mailing direct mail pieces;
- website and other social media;
- signage;
- anti-contamination security solutions (i.e. fencing, cameras, etc.);
- one-year subscription to an online recycling digital communication platform; and
- other innovative contamination reduction strategies.
Communities can begin the process by gaining a letter of support from their material recovery facility and hauler, as well as by applying to be a member of the Municipal Measurement Program and filling out the surveys online.
Applications are due March 10, and complete instructions can be found in the request for proposal.
For more information, contact Cassandra Ford at cford@recyclingpartnership.org or 785-840-4048.