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Join EPA’s Battery Recycling Working Groups
This year at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, EPA announced the formation of battery recycling working sessions alongside experts from state governments, manufacturers, recyclers, and environmental groups. Speaking from the stage to a packed room of interested parties from across the globe, Rick Kessler, EPA Senior Advisor for Implementation for the Office of Land and Emergency Management, and Nena Shaw, Director of EPA’s Resource Conservation and Sustainability Division, highlighted the Agency’s leading role in battery recycling efforts.
Shaw described the critical importance of the current moment in which EPA, “…received $25M from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to develop collection best practices for states, tribes and local governments to manage end-of-life batteries and increase recycling and voluntary labeling guidelines to increase recovery.”
Taking the stage next, Kessler called battery recycling a “tremendous opportunity” for recovering valuable materials for reuse while protecting human health through responsible management.
He announced the EPA-led battery working sessions and encouraged the following folks to join:
- battery and battery-containing device manufacturers,
- consumer electronics manufacturers,
- industry associations,
- NGOs,
- government agencies (state, tribal, local and territory),
- battery recyclers and processors,
- battery collection and stewardship organizations,
- retailers with battery collection points,
- automobile and e-mobility manufacturers and associations,
- battery and automobile salvage and shredding operations,
- transportation safety advocates,
- electric utilities,
- industrial battery users, and
- others with equities in the battery supply chain .
 The sessions will provide a space for interested parties to help develop battery labelling and collection best practices.
Jordan Brinn, Clean Vehicles and Infrastructure Advocate for the Natural Resources Defense Council, highlighted that “net benefits could increase if we accelerate battery recycling because it will be cheaper and better for the environment to use already refined materials than it is to keep extracting new raw materials.”
We also heard from James Jennings, Deputy Director, Illinois EPA, to provide a state perspective and Mark Newton, Head of Corporate Sustainability, Samsung Electronics America, Leo Raudys, President and CEO, Call2Recycle, and Danielle Spalding, VP, Communications & Public Affairs, Cirba Solutions for the industry and NGO perspectives.
To learn more about EPA’s battery initiatives and how to join the working sessions: https://www.epa.gov/infrastructure/battery-collection-best-practices-and-battery-labeling-guidelines#Continued.
To watch the full session: https://videos.ces.tech/detail/video/6344635339112/collaborative-opportunities-to-increase-battery-recycling For information on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: https://www.epa.gov/infrastructure
Contact: batteries@epa.gov
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Comment Now on Version 16 of the Waste Reduction Model Tool
On December 26, 2023, EPA released the WARM tool version 16 and documentation, the WARM methodology, external peer review report, and the WARM data quality assessment report. WARM v16 contains updates to several materials including food waste, mixed electronics, wood product construction items, and demolition materials. We also updated economic factors in WARM, based on newly available data.
EPA seeks comment on WARM version 16 and its documentation through February 9, 2024. We will use comments and the findings of the external peer review and data quality assessment to improve the usability, integrity, and functionality of WARM. Access Version 16 on the WARM website.
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Comment Now on the Draft National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss and Waste and Recycling Organics
EPA extended the comment period on the “Draft National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss and Waste and Recycling Organics" for an additional 30 days, through February 3, 2024.
Public comments can be submitted at Regulations.gov, Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OLEM-2022-0415.
https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/EPA-HQ-OLEM-2022-0415-0001
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EPA Awards Small Business Innovation Research Phase I Grants and Summaries
 EPA awarded SBIR Phase I grants to support several projects on recycling, reuse, food waste, and the built environment. To highlight the ongoing success of circular economy initiatives, the SBIR program released summaries featuring successful technologies that have received funding to advance the circular economy and recycling.
Below is a partial list of recent Phase I awardees. Learn more about 2023's SBIR awardees.
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GreenLifeTech Corporation (Banner Elk, N.C.): to develop a system for increasing the shelf-life of produce by recirculating oxygen in refrigerators.
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SafetySpect, Inc. (Grand Forks, N.D.): to develop a handheld device to determine the shelf life of red meat to reduce unnecessary waste.
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ChemFinity Technologies, Inc. (Brooklyn, N.Y.): to develop a method to extract and recycle precious metals from solid waste, including from catalytic converters.
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KLAW Industries, LLC (Binghamton, N.Y.): to develop an autonomous robotic system for sorting recycling that improves recovery and reduces cost.
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Recirclable, LLC (Arlington, Mass.): to develop an innovative approach to increase reuse in restaurant takeout practices and reduce single-use container waste.
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Valis Insights, Inc. (Worcester, Mass.): to develop an AI-powered software tool to recover valuable materials from metal recycling.
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Acadian Research & Development, LLC (Laramie, Wyo.): to develop an environmentally friendly, low-cost method of producing graphene oxide from wood waste to increase concrete strength and reduce the amount of concrete needed for construction projects.
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Lab to Market Fund, LLC, DBA Adhesion Technologies (Cambridge, Mass.): to develop novel bio-based adhesives for wood products in the construction industry to mitigate carbon dioxide and other emissions.
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Material Reuse, LLC (Gainesville, Fla.): to develop a time-efficient and robust assessment of existing buildings for salvageable and reusable products or materials prior to demolition.
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The SMART Tire Company, Inc. (Akron, Ohio): to develop an innovative and safe process for the reuse and recycling of superelastic shape memory alloys for airless, never-flat tires.
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GreenTechnologies, LLC (Jacksonville, Fla.): to develop a technology to transform food waste efficiently into enhanced fertilizers.
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Check out the New Database of Federal Grants to Support Food Waste Initiatives
ReFED, in partnership with NRDC, developed a database of federal funding opportunities that supports food waste reduction and organics recycling initiatives. The database includes basic information about grants, such as eligible applicants, application due dates, funding amounts, and links to more information. Explore the database.
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Attend the National Climate Assessment Webinar Series from Jan-March
 The U.S. Global Change Research Program is hosting a series of public engagement webinars on the Fifth National Climate Assessment, also known as NCA5. The series runs from January 11th through March 15th with each webinar covering a particular chapter of the NCA5. Learn more and register.
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Attend a Webinar on Funding Zero Waste Projects Under EPA’s CPRG Program on Jan 24th
On January 24th, the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, Zero Waste USA, and the National Recycling Coalition will host a webinar on strategies for funding zero waste projects under EPA’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program. Learn more and register.
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USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Seeking Entity for Grant Program Manager/Coordinator – Apply by Jan 31st
USDA SARE program is seeking an entity to manage the Community Foods Project Food Loss and Waste Training and Technical Assistance Grants Program. Eligible organizations/institutions are invited to apply for this Program Manager/Coordinator position by January 31. (The Call for Proposals for the grant program will be released in 2024.) Read the call for applications.
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Apply for EPA’s Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program on a Rolling Basis until Nov
 EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights is awarding approximately $2 billion in grants to fund community-drive projects that address climate challenge and reduce pollution while strengthening communities through thoughtful implementation. The Inflation Reduction Act provided the funds for this grant program. Eligible entities include partnerships between two community-based organizations or a partnership between a Community-Based Organization and a local government, federally-recognized tribes, or institutes of higher education.
Objectives of the grant program are:
- To provide resources for community-driven projects to address environmental and climate challenges in communities facing disproportionate and adverse health, pollution, and environmental impacts, and suffering from generations of disinvestment.
- To invest in strong cross-sectoral collaborations with partners who bring a robust commitment to working with and for communities with environmental and climate justice concerns.
- To unlock access to additional and more significant resources to advance environmental and climate justice goals from across the federal government and other sources.
- To empower communities and strengthen their capacity to drive meaningful positive change on the ground for years to come.
- To strengthen community participation in government decision-making processes that impact them.
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis with initial award selections beginning in March 2024. The final application deadline is November 21, 2024.
Read full notice of funding opportunity. View frequently asked questions about the Community Change Grants program.
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Apply for EPA’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grants by April and May
EPA is making available $4.6 billion across two implementation grant competitions, one general competition, and one specifically for Tribes and territories. Under these funding opportunities, eligible applicants compete for climate pollution reduction implementation grants to fund measures in their state-, municipality-, tribe-, or territory-specific climate action plans. As part of its application evaluation, EPA will prioritize measures that achieve the greatest reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Measures that address waste and materials management are within scope as well.
The deadline to apply to the general competition is April 1, 2024. The deadline to apply to the tribes and territories competition is May 1, 2024. EPA estimates that the implementation grants will be awarded in fall 2024 for the general competition and in winter 2024-2025 for the tribes and territories competition.
For more information, please visit:
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Apply by Feb 21st for EPA’s 21st Annual People, Prosperity, and the Planet National Student Design Competition
EPA’s P3 Program is currently seeking applications from U.S. university and college student teams proposing research to develop and demonstrate solutions to environmental and public health challenges of people across the U.S., including those in small, rural, tribal, and underserved communities. This program highlights the use of scientific principles in creating innovative technology-based projects. The goal is to achieve improved quality of life, economic prosperity, and environmental protection. Relevant research topics include the development of innovative solutions to waste management, as well as techniques and technologies that allow for the beneficial reuse of products and materials.
Each student team will receive up to a $75,000, two-year award to develop their project through the design, research, and demonstration stages. Winning teams will showcase their designs at the P3 National Student Design Expo in the second year of their project periods.
Application deadline: February 21, 2024.
Learn more about this P3 funding opportunity, read the full Request for Applications, and register for an informational webinar to be held on January 22, 2024.
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Apply by Feb 19th to the Food Tech Challengers Competition to Showcase your Work in Food Waste Reduction
 Food Tech Challengers provides startups from all over the globe with a unique opportunity to showcase their solutions to a distinctive panel of 100+ investors, industry leaders and experts. To enter, startups must be innovators in one of the six tracks fostering the food tech innovation, one of which is Fighting Food Waste. This track will showcase innovations in sustainable packaging and storage, shelf-life extension, upcycled organic waste, and food waste analytics.
Application deadline: February 19, 2024.
Learn more about this opportunity and how to apply.
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Apply for USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program Loans and Grants on a Rolling Basis
This program provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Agricultural producers may also apply for new energy efficient equipment, as well as new system loans for agricultural production and processing. Funds may be used for the purchase and installation of renewable energy systems, including anaerobic digesters.
Application Window Closing Dates:
- January 31, 2024.
- March 31, 2024.
- June 30, 2024.
- September 30, 2024.
Visit the USDA Rural Energy for America Grants webpage for more details.
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Apply for USDA’s Foundational and Applied Science Program Grants on a Rolling Basis
 These grants cover research, education, and extension projects with a wide variety of topics and eligible entities. Total anticipated funding for this fiscal year is $300 million. The 2024 request for applications for USDA’s Agriculture and Food Initiative Foundational and Applied Science Program identifies the following priority program areas, some of which include reduction of food loss and waste, soil health practices, and bioeconomy development as eligible projects:
- Plant health and production and plant products.
- Animal health and production and animal products.
- Food safety, nutrition, and health.
- Bioenergy, natural resources, and environment.
- Agriculture systems and technology.
- Agriculture economics and rural communities.
- Crosscutting programs.
Read the 2024 Request for Applications for Foundational and Applied Science Program.
Application deadlines: August 1 through November 14, 2024, depending on program area).
Learn more about this funding opportunity and how to apply.
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Mention of or referral to commercial products or services, and/or links to non-EPA sites does not imply official EPA endorsement of or responsibility for the opinions, ideas, data, or products presented at those locations, or guarantee the validity of the information provided. Mention of commercial products/services on non-EPA websites is provided solely as a pointer to information on topics related to environmental protection that may be useful to EPA staff and the public. |
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By subscribing to the newsletter, you will receive periodic announcements about resources, events, webinars, funding opportunities, and more from EPA and our partners. Topics include circular economy, reduce/reuse/recycle, food loss and waste, electronics, plastics, municipal solid waste, and the built environment.
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