EGLE Recycling Infrastructure Grant

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) Recycling Unit is offering the Recycling Infrastructure Grant program, funded through the Renew Michigan Fund, to support Governor Gretchen Whitmer's climate priorities by expanding access to recycling services and increasing the statewide recycling rate. The program's core objectives are to increase access to recycling infrastructure while fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion, expand collection and processing capacity, and boost participation rates in existing recycling programs.

Eligible entities located in Michigan include non-profit organizations, tribal governments, public school districts, universities and colleges, local health departments, regional planning agencies, cities, villages, townships, charter townships, counties, municipal solid waste authorities, and resource recovery authorities. Proposed projects must demonstrate shovel-readiness with proven feasibility, a sustainable funding structure, and long-range facility usage plans. Applicants must also confirm that collected or processed materials will be directed to market for manufacturing rather than disposal. Evaluation priority is given to projects with substantial projected capacity increases, robust educational programs, collaboration with partners, consultation with EGLE staff, concurrent co-funding (such as through The Recycling Partnership), demonstrated greenhouse gas reductions, and direct benefits to environmental justice or vulnerable populations. Awardees must register in SIGMA VSS, report volumes through the Re-TRAC platform, and agree to supply project data for up to five years.

Eligible infrastructure projects include transitioning from bins to curbside carts, purchasing collection vehicles, establishing or upgrading public drop-off sites for traditional or hard-to-recycle materials, implementing multi-family recycling systems, acquiring processing equipment, and undertaking foam recycling projects that leverage foodservice packaging industry funding. Ineligible projects and costs include food waste/organics, household hazardous waste, scrap tire recycling, one-day collection events, private school district projects, public space recycling containers, glass crushers for mixed recycling systems, uncovered outdoor containers, staff salaries, indirect/overhead expenses, grant administration, pre-construction engineering or architectural design fees, down payments, equipment rentals, and real property acquisition.

To apply, applicants must complete and submit the official online application via the EGLE grant portal by 5:00 PM on January 28, 2026. Submissions must include an itemized budget narrative addressing all specified cost categories, along with relevant supporting attachments such as third-party letters of commitment or support (which cannot be authored by the applicant or its subcontractors), equipment price quotes, site photographs, data calculations, and recent financial audits or statements.