EPA selects 2 governments in Pennsylvania to receive recycling, waste grants

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Mid-Atlantic Region has selected two local governments in Pennsylvania to receive Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) grants totaling about $6.7 million, part of an agencywide effort that selected 17 local governments to receive a total of $58 million in this latest round of funding.

The EPA’s SWIFR program provides grants to implement the National Recycling Strategy aimed at improving postconsumer materials management and infrastructure, supporting improvements to local postconsumer materials management and recycling programs and assisting local waste management authorities in making improvements to their systems while supporting economic development in communities nationwide.

In Pennsylvania, Delaware County was selected to receive $4.9 million for its Transfer Stations Reimagined – Composting and Expanded Recycling Services Project, which aims to build accessible recycling capacity, reduce pollution, increase diversion and improve localized air quality throughout the county.

The city of Pittsburgh also was selected to receive $1.7 million to increase its yard waste collection frequency through the purchase of equipment, hiring of personnel and public outreach.

In the first round in October 2023, the EPA received applications from 311 local governments requesting a total of about $834.4 million in funding. The agency awarded 25 grants totaling about $72.9 million—about 9 percent of the total funding requested. In this latest round, the EPA received 307 applications requesting a total of about $1.1 billion and selected 17 applicants to receive approximately $58 million—about 5 percent of the total funding requested.

Along with the city of Pittsburgh and Delaware County, the latest SWIFR grant recipients include:

• Chicago, $4.9 million;
• Cincinnati, $4.9 million;
• Fort Worth, Texas, $4.8 million;
• Geneva, New York, $2.4 million;
• Kansas City, $5 million;
• Rapid City, South Dakota, $4.9 million;
• Shoreline, Washington, $4.4 million;
• Unalaska, Alaska, $3.8 million;
• Maui County, Hawaii, $3.6 million;
• Incorporated County of Los Alamos, New Mexico, $1.1 million;
• Metropolitan government of Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee, $2.4 million;
• Isabela, Puerto Rico, $5 million;
• Rowan County Fiscal Court, Kentucky, $2.6 million;
• Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, $2.7 million; and
• Wasatch Integrated Waste Management District, Utah, $3.4 million.

"We're pleased to announce these selections, which will address pressing environmental challenges and help communities better manage waste across the region," EPA Region 3 Administrator Amy Van Blarcom-Lackey says. "By investing in improved recycling, EPA is dedicating resources that support and bolster local economies. We look forward to advancing EPA programs that strengthen our nation's recycling infrastructure.” 

For more information on SWIFR grants or the other recipients, please visit the EPA website.