Michigan Small Community Recycling Education Grant

The Michigan Small Community Recycling Education Grant program provides access to comprehensive recycling education and outreach resources for smaller Michigan communities. Administered by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) in partnership with The Recycling Partnership, the initiative aims to increase public participation, reduce recycling contamination, and support statewide climate and materials management goals by equipping residents with clear information on how, where, and why to recycle.

Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, tribal governments, regional planning agencies, cities, villages, townships, charter townships, counties, municipal solid waste authorities, or resource recovery authorities located in Michigan that serve fewer than 10,000 households with a curbside and/or drop-off recycling program. Preference is given to communities facing historic environmental or socio-economic disparities. Applicants must be in good standing with EGLE, having had no grants terminated for cause within the preceding 24 months and no demonstrated inability to manage agreements, and cannot appear on the Federal Debarment and Suspension List.

Eligible project activities focus on resident recycling outreach and education. The grant provides fully funded design, printing, and direct mailing of educational items. Available material options include informational postcards, top issue postcards, magnet postcards, educational info sheets, cart tags, and dumpster signage. Materials can be customized with local logos, websites, and contact numbers, and are provided in a bilingual format in English and Spanish.

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and evaluated on a first-come, first-served basis until available program funds are fully disbursed. Applicants access and apply for the opportunity online through The Recycling Partnership portal to select and customize their education templates for direct printing and mailing.