For Immediate Release:  December 8, 2012

Contact:  Erin Hatfield, (405) 437.8468

Local governments (including public school districts, universities, municipalities, counties, or, tribes) and nonprofit organizations can apply to the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for funds aimed at solid waste management improvements. The Oklahoma Solid Waste Management Act (Act) affords DEQ resources that can help local governments with things such as cleaning up illegal dumps, hiring environmental enforcement officers, and hosting collection events for difficult to manage waste such as household chemicals, unwanted meds, and old electronics. The Act created a system of state solid waste fees that help fund DEQ’s environmental protection programs.

Partnerships with local governments allow DEQ to make the best use of available resources. “Local governments understand local environmental needs. From assistance in hosting household hazardous collection events, or aid in investigating illegal dumping, DEQ solid waste funding agreements are a tool we offer to help drive locally initiated environmental improvement projects” says Libby McCaskill, DEQ Sustainable Materials Management manager. “If funding is available, we will work to develop agreements and implement local projects this fiscal year.”

Types of Grants Available

Environmental Officer to curtail illegal dumping. Typically, they are used to help fund the salary of one part-time Environmental Officer, and pay for equipment, labor and other costs needed to clean up dump sites, associated with clean-ups.

Waste Management Equipment to provide up to 80% of equipment cost not to exceed $50,000, to support the purchase of equipment to manage solid waste, such as brush chippers, or balers for compacting recyclable materials.

Collection Event for residents to drop off household hazardous waste (HHW), unwanted pharmaceuticals, used medical sharps, and electronic waste, tires, scrap metal, and/or other difficult-to-manage waste streams for proper disposal or recycling. Electronic waste collection events must use an e-Stewards or R2 certified e-waste recycler.

Professional Service/other are for non-profit organizations that provide unique environmental improvement services not otherwise available.

Food Waste Management Projects are for a wide range of projects to reduce wasted food by diverting it from disposal to higher use. Examples include supplies and equipment to support retail food recovery programs and university research projects to define existing food recovery infrastructure.

Find out more and apply at https://www.deq.ok.gov/land-protection-division/waste-management/solid-waste/funding-opportunities-for-community-based-environmental-protection-projects/ for any of the grant applications. The first application period is open now through February 28, 2024, for the FY25 project year starting July 1, 2024. Priority will be given to applications received by January 31, 2024. Grant award notification is anticipated to occur in April 2024.

Assistance will be provided until funds are exhausted. Subsequent application periods will be opened if additional funds remain after the first round of applications.

Interested individuals can contact the DEQ Sustainable Materials Management Section at 405-702-5100 or by e-mail at swgrants@deq.ok.gov.

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