Oregon offers waste reduction grants

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is accepting applications for grant funds that support the state's 2050 Vision for Materials Management. The DEQ says  $1.2 million in grant funding will be available to projects that target prevention and recovery of solid waste, as well as local solid and household hazardous waste planning.

The grants will be made available through the Oregon DEQ’s Materials Management program. In last year's grant round, the program awarded close to $600,000 to 15 projects.

For the first time, nonprofit organizations will be eligible to receive grants under rules adopted earlier this year. Local governments continue to be eligible as well. To assist local governments in complying with new requirements for recovery and prevention, an incentive of additional points will be available for grant proposals that meet or exceed the requirements.

The two areas where the grant money is being targeted are:

• Household Hazardous Waste/Solid Waste/Materials Management Plans -- The planning grants will fund the development or update of solid waste management plans, materials management plans and household hazardous waste plans developed by local governments.
• Materials Management Projects -- Grants will fund projects that prevent, reuse or recover solid waste. Both local governments and nonprofits may apply for a project grant.

Applications will be accepted through Oct. 31, 2016, with grants awarded by the end of this December. More information can be found at www.deq.state.or.us/lq/sw/grants.