Opportunity Information: Apply for SWMFY2020
The Solid Waste Management Grant Program is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Utilities Programs, designed to strengthen solid waste management in communities primarily through technical support rather than construction or equipment purchases. The program focuses on improving how landfills and local solid waste systems are assessed, operated, maintained, and planned for over time, with a clear emphasis on protecting water resources and helping communities manage waste more effectively. The assistance funded under this program is largely educational, planning-oriented, and capacity-building in nature, aiming to give local operators and communities the skills and guidance needed to run safer, more compliant, and more sustainable solid waste programs.
Grant funds can be used for several core activities. One major use is evaluating current landfill conditions to identify and understand potential threats to water resources, which can include issues like leachate management risks or other conditions that could impact surface water or groundwater. Funding can also support technical assistance and training to enhance the skills of landfill operators who run active facilities, helping them improve day-to-day operations and long-term maintenance practices. Another eligible purpose is providing technical assistance or training to help communities reduce the overall solid waste stream, which can involve education, program development, and strategies that reduce disposal volumes through better waste handling practices. The program also specifically supports communities dealing with landfills that are already closed or expected to close soon; in those cases, funding can be used for technical help in developing and implementing closure plans, identifying future land uses, establishing safety and maintenance plans, and creating closure schedules that meet applicable permit requirements.
At the same time, the program sets firm boundaries on what it will not pay for, underscoring that this is not an infrastructure construction grant. Funds may not be used to recruit applications for USDA Water and Waste loans or any other loan or grant programs. They also cannot be used to duplicate services that are already being provided or to replace support that would normally come from other sources, such as routine consultant work performed for an association when developing a project (including feasibility studies, design work, and cost estimates). Political or lobbying activities are explicitly prohibited. The grant cannot be used to pay for capital assets, and it cannot be used to purchase real estate or vehicles, renovate or improve office space, or repair and maintain privately owned property. It also cannot fund the construction, improvement, rehabilitation, modification, or operation and maintenance of water, wastewater, or solid waste disposal facilities. In addition, costs incurred before the grant becomes effective (as governed by 7 CFR 1775) are not eligible for reimbursement.
From the opportunity details provided, the funding opportunity title is Solid Waste Management Grant Program with the funding opportunity number SWMFY2020. It is categorized as a discretionary grant under the community development and environment activity areas, and it is associated with CFDA number 10.762. The administering agency is the Department of Agriculture, Utilities Programs. The opportunity was created on October 1, 2019, with an original closing date of December 31, 2019. The maximum award amount listed (award ceiling) is $1,000,000, and the agency anticipated making about 30 awards. Eligibility is broadly listed as "Others," with the note that applicants should consult the additional eligibility information in the full announcement for clarification on which organization types qualify.
In practical terms, this program is best understood as a way to pay for expertise, training, planning, and assessments that improve landfill management and solid waste practices, especially where better operations and better closure planning can reduce environmental risks to water resources. It is not meant to fund physical upgrades, vehicles, buildings, or construction projects; instead, it funds the know-how and technical groundwork that helps communities run and plan their solid waste systems responsibly and in line with regulatory expectations.Apply for SWMFY2020
- The Department of Agriculture, Utilities Programs in the community development, environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Solid Waste Management Grant Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.762.
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 01, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 31, 2019. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 30 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Solid Waste Management Grant Program (SWMFY2020) FAQs
What is the Solid Waste Management Grant Program?
The Solid Waste Management Grant Program is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Utilities Programs. It is designed to strengthen solid waste management in communities primarily through technical support, training, planning, and assessments rather than through construction or equipment purchases.
What is the main purpose of this grant?
The main purpose is to improve how landfills and local solid waste systems are assessed, operated, maintained, and planned over time. A central emphasis is protecting water resources by reducing risks to surface water and groundwater through better solid waste practices and more informed management.
Is this grant meant for construction or infrastructure upgrades?
No. This program is not an infrastructure or construction grant. It focuses on educational, planning-oriented, and capacity-building activities rather than physical construction, facility rehabilitation, or equipment procurement.
What types of activities can grant funds support?
Grant funds can support technical and capacity-building activities such as:
- Evaluating current landfill conditions to identify potential threats to water resources (for example, risks related to leachate or other conditions affecting surface water or groundwater).
- Technical assistance and training to improve the skills of operators at active landfill facilities, including day-to-day operations and long-term maintenance practices.
- Technical assistance or training to help communities reduce the overall solid waste stream through education, program development, and strategies that reduce disposal volumes.
- Technical help for communities with closed landfills, or landfills expected to close soon, including closure planning and related preparation work.
What does "technical assistance" mean in the context of this program?
Based on the opportunity description, technical assistance generally means providing expertise, guidance, training, and planning support that helps communities and landfill operators improve compliance, safety, sustainability, and long-term solid waste management outcomes. It is described as largely educational and planning-focused rather than tied to building or operating facilities.
Can this grant fund landfill condition assessments related to water resource protection?
Yes. One major eligible use is evaluating current landfill conditions to identify and understand potential threats to water resources, including issues that could affect surface water or groundwater.
Can the grant pay for training landfill operators at active facilities?
Yes. The program can fund technical assistance and training intended to enhance the skills of landfill operators who run active facilities, with an emphasis on improving operations and long-term maintenance practices.
Can this program support efforts to reduce the solid waste stream?
Yes. Funding can support technical assistance or training that helps communities reduce the overall solid waste stream through education, program development, and strategies aimed at lowering disposal volumes via better waste handling practices.
Does the program support communities with closed landfills or landfills nearing closure?
Yes. The program specifically supports communities managing landfills that are already closed or expected to close soon. Funding can be used for technical assistance related to closure planning and implementation steps.
What kinds of closure-related activities are described as eligible?
For closed or soon-to-close landfills, the notice describes eligible technical help such as developing and implementing closure plans, identifying future land uses, establishing safety and maintenance plans, creating closure schedules, and aligning closure activities with applicable permit requirements.
What are some key things the grant will NOT pay for?
The program sets firm limits and will not fund items that look like construction, capital purchases, or certain administrative/political activities. Examples explicitly listed as not allowed include recruiting applications for USDA Water and Waste loans (or other loan/grant programs), duplicating existing services, political or lobbying activities, and capital assets.
Can grant funds be used to buy equipment, vehicles, or other capital assets?
No. The announcement states the grant cannot be used to pay for capital assets and cannot be used to purchase vehicles.
Can grant funds be used to buy real estate or improve office space?
No. The program cannot be used to purchase real estate, renovate or improve office space, or repair and maintain privately owned property.
Can this grant fund construction, rehabilitation, or modification of solid waste facilities?
No. The grant cannot fund the construction, improvement, rehabilitation, or modification of water, wastewater, or solid waste disposal facilities. It also cannot fund the operation and maintenance of those facilities.
Can the grant pay for operating and maintenance costs of disposal facilities?
No. The opportunity states it cannot fund the operation and maintenance of water, wastewater, or solid waste disposal facilities.
Can funds be used to recruit or prepare applications for other USDA loan or grant programs?
No. Funds may not be used to recruit applications for USDA Water and Waste loans or any other loan or grant programs.
Can the grant be used to duplicate services that are already being provided?
No. The grant cannot be used to duplicate services that are already being provided or to replace support that would normally come from other sources.
Are feasibility studies, design work, or cost estimates allowable under this program?
As described in the notice, the grant cannot replace routine consultant work performed for an association when developing a project, including feasibility studies, design work, and cost estimates.
Are political or lobbying activities allowed?
No. Political or lobbying activities are explicitly prohibited under this program.
Can the grant reimburse costs incurred before the grant is effective?
No. Costs incurred before the grant becomes effective (as governed by 7 CFR 1775) are not eligible for reimbursement.
What is the funding opportunity number for this program?
The funding opportunity number listed is SWMFY2020.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The associated CFDA number is 10.762.
Which agency administers this grant?
The administering agency is the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Utilities Programs.
How is this grant categorized?
It is categorized as a discretionary grant and is associated with the community development and environment activity areas.
When was this opportunity created and when did it close?
The opportunity was created on October 1, 2019. The original closing date listed is December 31, 2019.
What is the maximum award amount?
The maximum award amount (award ceiling) listed is $1,000,000.
How many awards did the agency anticipate making?
The agency anticipated making about 30 awards.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broadly listed as "Others." The opportunity notes that applicants should consult the additional eligibility information in the full announcement for clarification on which organization types qualify.
Is the program more focused on education and planning than on buying things?
Yes. The program is described as largely educational, planning-oriented, and capacity-building in nature, meant to fund know-how like training, assessments, and technical guidance rather than physical upgrades or purchases.
What kinds of community benefits is the program aiming for?
Based on the description, the program aims to help communities manage waste more effectively, run safer and more compliant landfill operations, plan responsibly for long-term solid waste needs (including closure where applicable), and reduce environmental risks to water resources.
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