California Seeks Proposals for Recycling Market Grant Money

The California Department of Conservation is accepting funding proposals for its Beverage Container Recycling Market Development and Expansion Grant Program.

A total of $20 million is available for calendar year 2007 as part of an ongoing statewide effort to encourage sustainable, innovative approaches to the recovery and re-use of recyclable bottles and cans.

The overall goals of the Program are to improve the recycling rate for California Refund Value beverage containers and to encourage programs to achieve sustainable containers, packaging materials or systems in California. The grants also aim to stimulate job creation in the state.

The Department seeks innovative, but realistic projects that create market opportunities for new, sustainable products or packaging made from recycled beverage container materials; expand market-related activities for existing products made from recycled beverage container materials; improve the quality and supply of beverage container material feedstock for use in manufacturing sustainable products or packaging; or create market opportunities for new, sustainable beverage packaging.

Businesses, non-profits, cities, counties, joint powers authorities, universities, tribes, and state or federal government organizations have been invited by the Department of Conservation to submit concept papers by July 13, 2007.

The Department will be looking for grant projects that create new and expanded end-uses for aluminum, glass and plastic beverage containers, and improve supplies and quality of recycled feedstock for use in manufacturing. Recycling market development and expansion-related proposals may address, but are not limited to:

Research and development of collecting, sorting, processing, cleaning, or otherwise upgrading the market value of recycled beverage containers;

Identification, development, and expansion of markets for recycled beverage containers.

Research and development for products manufactured using recycled beverage containers.

Research and development to provide high quality materials that are substantially free of contamination.

For additional information on the Beverage Container Recycling Market Development and Expansion Grant Program, go to www.conservation.ca.gov/DOR and click on "grants" in the Quick Hits section.