MassDEP adds drop-off options, raises food-waste cart per-household rate in Spring 2025 SMART grants

Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection presenters outlined expansions and adjustments to the SMART Spring 2025 equipment grants, including a new drop-off food-waste equipment option and higher per-household funding for food-waste carts.

Becky Ferguson of the SMART team described two notable changes for curbside food-waste grants: MassDEP added an option to fund equipment for municipal food-waste drop-off sites (transfer stations or other municipal property) and increased the early-phase and expansion funding level to $25 per household (up from $20). "This is up from $20 per household in previous years," Ferguson said. She also said labels or stickers remain required but the per-household rate now includes their cost. The maximum award for the food-waste cart grant is $125,000 per municipality for up to 5,000 households (the 5,000-household limit is cumulative over multiple grant years), Ferguson added.

Drop-off equipment: Mikayla Guilliani (drop-off equipment presenter) reviewed six drop-off grant categories for Spring 2025 and associated reimbursement caps reported on the webinar:

- Food-waste drop-off station equipment: reimbursement up to $3,000 per site; maximum four sites; $12,000 cap per municipality. Funds may be used for carts or dumpsters, compostable liner bags, countertop containers and outreach materials. Sites must be on municipal property.

- Paint (oil-based, varnishes, stains): reimbursement for an enclosed weatherproof structure (shed) up to $5,000. (Latex paint is not considered hazardous and may be dried for disposal or collected for reuse.)

- Cardboard compactor (old corrugated cardboard only): reimbursement up to $10,000.

- Source-separated glass roll-offs (20- or 30-cubic-yard open-top roll-offs): reimbursement up to $8,000; optional convertible or gable tops may be considered.

- Reuse swap shop shed (permanent or seasonal shed for reusable household goods): reimbursement up to $6,000.

- Universal waste shed (for fluorescent lamps, batteries, thermostats, mercury devices): reimbursement up to $5,000.

Ferguson and Guilliani said municipalities may apply for up to two equipment categories in a single year, but each drop-off equipment award is a one-time reimbursement (if a town received an item in a prior year it generally is not eligible for the same item again). They also noted that some municipal waste combustor partnerships may provide similar sheds under their material separation plans; municipalities should check eligibility with their municipal assistance coordinator before applying.

Evaluation criteria specific to drop-off equipment include accessibility to residents and nonresidents, identification of a market/processor for the target material, enforcement of prohibitions on trashing target materials (for example, cardboard), and estimated tonnage to be captured for recyclables such as OCC or glass.

Ending: MassDEP encouraged applicants to consult the grant guidelines for itemized changes (highlighted in the posted documents), confirm municipal property status for drop-off sites, and speak with municipal assistance coordinators before applying.