California Grant Money Available

The California Collegiate Recycling Council, a technical council of the California Resource Recovery Association, working in conjunction with the California Department of Conservation, Division of Recycling announced the availability of $75,000 in grant funds available to colleges and universities in California. Funding is available to private colleges and universities, state Community Colleges, California State University campuses and University of California campuses. There is no maximum amount that can be requested, however CCRC may choose to only partially fund requests.

The intent of this grant program is to assist colleges and universities in developing beverage container recycling programs that integrate promotional materials with collection infrastructures. Priority in awarding funds will be given based on the following criteria:

* Promotional material is permanent or ongoing. In other words, materials such as permanent signs in sports facilities, reusable banners and signage attached to recycling bins will receive preference over newspaper ads or billboards -promotions that are transitory.

* Promotional material directly tied to collection infrastructure. This includes banners, signs, posters located on or nearby recycling containers.

* Recycling hardware that either expands existing collection infrastructure or that is closely targeted to a particular area or special event. In other words, recycling improvement efforts should seek to provide a comprehensive recycling infrastructure in whatever area it is targeting, as opposed to overextending collection capacity over too great an area.

Applicants are additionally encouraged to use promotional material developed by the DOC. For more information about these materials visit the DOC's website at http://www.bottlesandcans.com/. Ineligible expenses include administrative costs, travel, food and collection labor. All promotional material and infrastructure equipment must include acknowledgement of Department of Conservation funding, as well as the DOC's logo.

To be eligible for grant funds, applications must be completed and returned by March 15, 2002. Applications can be submitted electronically to anc1@humboldt.edu or ltking@ucdavis.edu, or sent as a hardcopy to the California Collegiate Recycling Council, 1414 K Street, Suite 660 Sacramento, Ca 95814. The CCRC executive committee will announce the grant awards by April 1, 2002.

Grant recipients will be responsible for all up front costs. Funds will be reimbursed by CCRC once all invoices and a final report have been submitted. All costs must be incurred by July 31,2002, with invoices and final report due by October 31, 2002. The final report should include the following:

* Review of the project's goals and objectives,

* A list of all materials developed or acquired,

* Full budgetary accounting,

* Evaluation of the project's success,

* Examples and pictures of promotional materials and equipment acquired,

* Discussion of how the project will continue into the future.

Keep in mind the following when preparing applications.  Responses to questions may be longer than the space provided in the application, but should not be excessively long. This application is not intended to be as thorough as those typically required by the DOC. If an application is shaping up to be over four or five pages, it is more detailed than it needs to be. Though, the grant will not cover ongoing collection labor, installation labor for new recycling bins is acceptable.

Questions regarding the grant can be directed to Alec Cooley, (707) 826 5920 or Lin King, (530) 752 6970.