The Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is seeking applications for solid waste diversion grants from public and private entities in the state. This will be the second round of grants awarded this year using funds from a program established by the state legislature to assist in the development, implementation, or improvement of activities that divert solid waste from disposal in the state.
The current request for applications is targeted at projects that: take advantage of regional economies of scale; specify reuse and repair infrastructure and program development; increase organics management and recycling infrastructure in underserved areas of the state; promote waste reduction through reuse, repair, and sharing economy initiatives; address a statewide need; and/or expand the types of materials managed through composting and recycling.
Earlier this year, Maine DEP awarded seven grants under a previous round of the waste diversion grants program. Those grants are supporting efforts to: increase efficiencies, prevent runoff, and upgrade facilities at a regional composting operation; expand a municipal glass recycling program; increase recycling of scrap wood from barn demolitions statewide; establish a year-round composting operation in a coastal community; support community composting efforts with backyard compost training and equipment; improve an existing community food scrap collection drop-off point; and improve the efficiency of food scrap collections in one area of the state.
