Ohio EPA is accepting applications for various recycling and litter prevention grants and will host an informational meeting will be held at 10 a.m. at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, 2045 Morse Road, Building E (Assembly Center), Columbus, Ohio 43229. Those attending should bring a photo I.D.
Ohio EPA administers programs relating to statewide source reduction, recycling, recycling market development, litter prevention and scrap tire recycling projects. Litter prevention, recycling and scrap tire grant applications can be accessed atwww.recycleohio.gov.
Grant programs include:
Community Recycling Grant: This funding allows Ohio communities to support and expand community recycling and litter prevention efforts. Grants provide new infrastructure for collection and materials processing, involving materials such as construction and demolition debris, electronics, glass, paper-based materials and plastics. Those eligible to apply include municipal corporations, counties, townships, villages, state colleges or universities, solid waste management districts or authorities, park districts and health districts. The grants require 50 percent matching funds.
Litter Management Grant (formerly the Litter Cleanup and Tire Amnesty Grant): This program seeks grant applications that will improve local environments through litter prevention, beautification and waste reduction activities. Ohio communities and nonprofit organizations can receive funding to support litter cleanup activities and litter prevention and awareness. Grant proposals must include a litter cleanup activity to take place on public land, roadsides or public waterways, and involve the use of volunteers. In addition to other eligible entities listed above, Keep Ohio Beautiful affiliates, boards of education and nonprofit organizations also may be eligible. Ten percent matching funds are required.
Market Development Grant: Grant funds are offered to Ohio businesses that propose to create infrastructure for successful markets of recyclable materials and related products. The program seeks proposals involving materials collected or processed in Ohio. In addition to the eligible entities listed under the community recycling grant above, business or nonprofit applicants must apply under a contract with an eligible government agency serving as a pass-through agency that can document and receive funds. This grant typically focuses on equipment purchase. The cooperating enterprise must commit to provide a 100 percent grant fund match, with a maximum grant period of 24 months.
Scrap Tire Grant: Financial assistance is available to Ohio entities interested in converting manufacturing operations to accept scrap tire material, expanding tire processing operations or developing a use for scrap tire material and related products. The program seeks proposals involving material collected or processed in Ohio. Applicants must be sponsored by an eligible government agency that will serve as the grant applicant and be the pass-through agency for documenting and receiving funds. This grant also requires 100 percent matching funds from the sponsoring business or nonprofit organization. The grant has a maximum duration of 24 months.
Grant applications for all four programs are due Feb. 2, 2015. Grant awards will be announced in April 2015, with funding available in July 2015. For more information, potential applicants can download grant information from www.recycleohio.gov or contact Chet Chaney, grants administrator, at [email protected] or call (614) 728-0043.
