Recycling Quality Improvement Grant Program

The Recycling Quality Improvement Grant Program, administered by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) in partnership with The Recycling Partnership, aims to grow recycling participation and improve materials management throughout Michigan. The program focuses on reducing recycling contamination and improving the capture of high-quality recyclable materials through targeted operational and public educational interventions.

Eligible applicants include Michigan cities, townships, counties, and regional solid waste management or resource recovery authorities. Collaborations with local materials recovery facilities (MRFs) and collection haulers are emphasized to align educational messaging with actual accepted material streams and local processing capabilities.

Project eligibility encompasses community-scale recycling quality improvement initiatives, including the deployment of cart-tagging education programs such as Feet on the Street to provide curbside households with real-time feedback on nonrecyclables. Communities providing drop-off recycling services are eligible for modified anti-contamination and anti-dumping site monitoring programs paired with public awareness outreach.

Applicants must apply in response to published Requests for Proposals (RFPs). Grant applications are evaluated and selected for funding based on demonstrated need, program priorities, community reach, and project eligibility criteria. Detailed RFP instructions and application forms are announced via EGLE's recycling grants portal.