The Solid Waste Advisory Committee meeting held on February 13, 2024, by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) focused on new grant opportunities aimed at enhancing waste diversion and recycling efforts in the state. The meeting highlighted two distinct grant categories designed to support innovative projects that divert materials from solid waste disposal.

The first grant category allows for a wide range of materials to be eligible, provided they are diverted from waste and align with specific activities such as processing, manufacturing, or reuse. This category offers funding for equipment, staff, feasibility studies, and marketing costs, emphasizing the need for comprehensive support to help pilot projects commercialize and expand. Projects must be completed within an 18-month timeframe.

The second category presents a larger funding opportunity, ranging from $500,000 to $2 million, with a required 50% match from applicants. This category targets specific materials, including textiles, container glass, construction and demolition (C&D) materials, bulky items, and household lithium batteries. Similar to the first category, eligible activities include processing and manufacturing, but projects in this category have a longer completion timeline of 36 months.

MassDEP anticipates that the application process will open in late spring 2024, with guidelines to be posted on their website. Interested parties are encouraged to review these guidelines thoroughly and direct any questions to MassDEP staff. The meeting also included a discussion on the specifics of container glass eligibility and the current state of textile recycling in Massachusetts, indicating a proactive approach to addressing these materials in the waste stream.

Overall, the meeting underscored MassDEP's commitment to fostering innovative waste management solutions and supporting projects that contribute to a more sustainable future in Massachusetts.