For Immediate Release:  December 2, 2022

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 funding to make solid waste management improvements. The Oklahoma Solid Waste Management 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.

Available Grants:

Environmental Officer to curtail illegal dumping. Typically, the funds are used to help pay the salary of one part-time environmental officer and pay for equipment, labor and other costs needed to clean up dump sites.

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 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, 2023. Priority will be given to applications received by January 31, 2023. Grant award notification is anticipated to occur in April 2023.

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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