DEP seeks grant proposals for waste diversion projects

March 6, 2020

Contact: David Madore, Communications Director (207) 287-5842 david.madore@maine.gov; or Mark King, Organics Management Specialist, (207) 592-0455

AUGUSTA, March 6, 2020 - The Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is soliciting grant proposals to support the development, implementation or improvement of programs, initiatives or activities designed to increase the diversion of solid waste from disposal.

All interested municipalities, regional associations, counties and Maine businesses are encouraged to apply. The DEP will award multiple grants of up to $40,000 ($125,000 total), and prefers proposals 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.

Last year, the DEP awarded a total of $212,790 to fund 13 waste diversion projects across Maine. These grants are supporting efforts to: increase efficiencies, reduce plastic waste, and upgrade equipment at three regional composting operations; expand a municipal reuse program; increase recycling infrastructure in an underserved area; pilot a statewide system for recycling agricultural plastics from greenhouses and high tunnels; establish a year-round composting program on an island community; support community composting efforts with backyard compost training and equipment and additional food scrap collection drop-off points; implement a voluntary recognition program to encourage restaurants to reduce single-use plastics and increase diversion of organics to composting; and install a radio frequency identification (RFID) system to assess operational efficiencies at a regional transfer station.

A copy of the Request for Proposal (RFP), as well as the Question & Answer Summary and all amendments related to this RFP, can be obtained at the following website:
https://www.maine.gov/dafs/bbm/procurementservices/vendors/rfps

Application details on the RFP # 202002039 - "Waste Diversion Grants Program" are also available on-line at: https://www.maine.gov/dep/rfp/index.html Questions on the RFP must be submitted by April 2nd, and proposals must be submitted electronically by 4 p.m., April 16, 2020.