Region 8 Sustainable Materials Management Grant | EPA R8 2024 SMM

Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA R8 2024 SMM

The Region 8 Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) Grant is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) focused specifically on advancing sustainable materials management within EPA Region 8. The program is designed to fund projects that meaningfully support source reduction, reuse, and market development, which are three core strategies for reducing waste and improving how materials are produced, used, recovered, and reintegrated into the economy. The notice is clear that proposals outside these SMM priorities will not be reviewed, so applications need to stay tightly aligned with these themes rather than broader environmental or recycling education work that is not tied to source reduction, reuse, or end-market development.

A key feature of this opportunity is that EPA Region 8 has identified three specific regional activities as the central focus of the grant, and every applicant must include at least one of those activities in their proposal. While the notice excerpt does not list the three activities themselves, it indicates that they are Region 8-specific priorities and that applicants should consult the full Notice of Funding Opportunity (particularly the sections detailing the program priorities and requirements) to ensure their project directly maps to one or more of those activities. Projects can target any material stream that fits within the SMM framework, and EPA explicitly notes examples such as the built environment, construction and demolition (C&D) debris, materials commonly handled at materials recovery facilities (MRFs), electronics reuse or recycling, and food systems. This means applicants have flexibility in what they work on, as long as the approach clearly advances upstream waste prevention or reuse and/or strengthens viable markets for recovered materials.

The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically implies more substantial EPA involvement compared to a standard grant. In practical terms, that often means the agency may collaborate with the recipient through regular check-ins, technical input, or coordination to ensure the project meets federal program goals and reporting expectations. The opportunity falls under the environmental assistance CFDA listing 66.808, and it is administered by the Environmental Protection Agency. Eligibility is described broadly as "Others," but the notice directs applicants to Section III of the NOFO for the definitive eligibility rules, which is where details normally appear about which organization types may apply, whether partnerships are allowed, and any restrictions (for example, on for-profit entities, certain governmental units, or pass-through arrangements).

From a funding and competition standpoint, the maximum award amount (award ceiling) is $51,000, and EPA expects to make one award. That structure suggests a relatively small, targeted project rather than a large multi-year program, and it also means the competition may be tight because there is only a single expected recipient. The original application closing date is September 27, 2024, and the opportunity was created on August 13, 2024. Because of the limited funding and single anticipated award, proposals typically need to be especially clear on deliverables, realistic timelines, measurable outcomes, and how the work will create lasting impact beyond the grant period, particularly in terms of preventing waste at the source, expanding reuse systems, or improving end-market viability for recovered materials.

Overall, this opportunity is best suited for applicants proposing practical, implementation-oriented SMM projects in Region 8 that can demonstrate concrete benefits such as reduced material consumption, increased reuse and repair, improved diversion through better sorting or capture paired with real market pathways, or strengthened local/regional demand for recycled-content feedstocks. To be competitive, an application would need to clearly identify which of the Region 8 priority activities it addresses, show how the work aligns with source reduction, reuse, and/or market development (not just collection), and provide a credible plan for tracking results and reporting outcomes consistent with EPA cooperative agreement requirements.

• The Environmental Protection Agency in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Region 8 Sustainable Materials Management Grant" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 66.808.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-08-13.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-09-27. (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 $51,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for EPA R8 2024 SMM

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