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Biden-Harris Administration Invests More Than $4.5 million in Virginia Recycling Infrastructure Projects Through Investing in America Agenda
PHILADELPHIA (Sept. 14, 2023) – This week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced more than $4.5 million from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to expand recycling infrastructure and waste management systems across Virginia.
EPA has selected one community organization in Virginia to receive a grant of just under $4 million under the newly created Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling funding opportunity. In addition, the agency is making available more than $500,000 for Virginia to improve solid waste management and data collection. Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this investment is a part of EPA’s largest recycling investment in 30 years.
The grants support the implementation of EPA’s National Recycling Strategy to build an economy devoted to keeping materials, products, and services in circulation for as long as possible –what’s known as a “circular economy.”
“The Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda is addressing environmental challenges throughout our nation, and this is another historic investment to address waste management issues in our local communities,” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. “These additional resources are critical to improving recycling efforts, preventing waste and improving reuse capabilities that will address climate change, support local economies and help build a cleaner Virginia.”
“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continues delivering for Virginia communities,” said U.S. Senator Mark Warner (D-VA). “I’m glad to see nearly $4 million awarded to the Northern Shenandoah Valley Regional Planning Commission to assist with recycling efforts, create jobs, and promote sustainability.”
“Recycling helps us keep the environment clean, and the industry plays an important role in our regional economies by supporting jobs,” said U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA). “I’m glad this funding will help the Northern Shenandoah Valley Regional Planning Commission upgrade their recycling infrastructure and reestablish curbside service to make recycling more convenient throughout the region.”
President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda is growing the American economy from the bottom up and middle-out – from rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure, to driving over $470 billion in private sector manufacturing and clean energy investments in the United States, to creating a manufacturing and innovation boom powered by good paying jobs that don’t require a four-year degree, to building a clean-energy economy that will combat climate change and make our communities more resilient.
EPA’s Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grant Program is also advancing President's Justice40 Initiative, which aims to ensure that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved, and overburdened by pollution. Approximately $56 million out of the $73 million – or 76% - of the total funding for communities will go toward projects that benefit disadvantaged communities.
Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grants for Communities
The recycling grants for communities will support improvements to waste management systems across the country. The SWIFR for Communities grant located in Virginia that was selected for award is:
$3,999,992 for Expanded and Optimized Recycling Services in the Northern Shenandoah Valley: The Northern Shenandoah Valley Regional Commission will upgrade current tire grinding operations that will lead to a marketable end product for reuse, re-establish curbside recycling in towns throughout the region, and purchase upgraded recycling receptacles for use throughout the region to increase recycling capacity and improve operational efficiency.
“This highly competitive grant award reinforces the value of regional collaboration, which is at the heart of NSVRC’s core mission,” said Dennis Morris, Northern Shenandoah Valley Regional Commission chairman. “This achievement would not have been possible without the tireless dedication of our exceptional staff and solid waste professionals serving our localities. The results of these major investments in the region’s critical infrastructure will modernize recycling in the Shenandoah Valley for years to come, by re-establishing curbside recycling in small towns, improving recycling opportunities in rural areas, and diverting millions of tons of tires from our landfills.”
Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grants for States and Territories
The recycling grants for states and territories will also provide $531,690 in grant funding to Virginia.
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VADEQ) will update the state’s Solid Waste Management Plan through a series of actions that include working with stakeholders, analyzing current measurement and tracking capabilities, and identifying connections to circular economy and climate goals. VADEQ will also develop an online recycling data collection and analysis application to measure solid waste recycling conducted by permitted facilities and solid waste planning units in the State.
Additional Background
Today’s announcement for states, territories, and communities is the first round of funding from this new grant program. In the coming months, EPA will announce the selected recipients of the recycling grants for Tribes and intertribal consortia, as well as the recipients of EPA’s new Recycling Education and Outreach grant program.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $275 million total from fiscal year 2022 to fiscal year 2026 for grants authorized under the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act - the largest investment in recycling in 30 years. The recycling grants are supplemented with additional funding provided through EPA’s annual appropriations. EPA has selected these entities to receive funding for recycling infrastructure projects and anticipates making all the awards announced this week once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied.
For details about the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grant Program selectees and other Bipartisan Infrastructure Law-related funding opportunities, visit the EPA recycling grants webpage.