|
EPA Publishes Final “National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution”
 Today, EPA published the “National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution,” part three in EPA’s Series on Building a Circular Economy for All. In the strategy, EPA shares actions that governments, businesses, non-profits, and consumers can take to eliminate the release of plastic waste into the environment. EPA also outlines interventions across the entire plastic life cycle to reduce the U.S. contribution to plastic pollution.
In the bipartisan Save Our Seas 2.0 Act of 2020, Congress charged EPA with developing a strategy to reduce plastic waste and other post-consumer materials in waterways and oceans. EPA published the draft strategy in April of 2023 and received nearly 92,000 comments during the public comment period. Many voiced concerns about how plastic pollution impacts human health and the environment. This final strategy incorporates that feedback and affirms EPA’s commitment to eliminating the release of plastic waste into the environment by 2040.
|
|
EPA Celebrates America Recycles Day
 This year, America Recycles Day fell on the third anniversary of the passage of the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provided EPA the largest investment in recycling in 30 years to support "National Recycling Strategy" implementation and build a circular economy for all. So, let’s celebrate the progress we've made as a nation to improve recycling infrastructure, reduce food waste, increase composting, and develop a circular economy! When we recycle right, we help reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Recycling more as a nation gives us opportunities to create new jobs, build a more resilient economy, and conserves valuable resources.
This year we announced $117 million in funding between the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling and the Recycling Education and Outreach grant programs. These funds help create better waste management systems and combat climate change. In June 2024, EPA partnered with the White House, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to release the "National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss and Waste and Recycling Organics." And today, the EPA is also releasing the "National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution."
A lot has been done and yet there is always more to do. Remember your three R’s! REDUCE the amount you purchase at a time. REUSE any items that can be given another life. When those two avenues are exhausted, RECYCLE what is left, making sure to follow your local recycling rules. Visit the EPA recycling homepage for more about all that we do and guidance on recycling right.
Read the Presidential Proclamation.
|
|
EPA Posts New Frequent Questions about Solar Panel Waste
 Last month, EPA published several new frequent questions about recycling and managing end-of-life solar panels under RCRA. Find out how the RCRA regulations apply to solar panels that are reused and recycled, how solar panels can be legitimately recycled, how to use knowledge or analytical testing to make a hazardous waste determination on solar panels, and more on our website.
|
|
EPA Seeks Public Comment by January 23 on Municipal Solid Waste Landfills
 As part of EPA’s strategy to learn more about new and emerging technologies and alternative methodologies for regulating emissions from municipal solid waste landfills, EPA opened a non-regulatory docket to gather input on ways we can streamline, improve, and harmonize the current suite of emissions regulations that cover these sources. Please comment by January 23, 2025.
As part of this effort, EPA has developed a series of white papers on new and emerging technologies, alternative approaches to regulating landfill emissions, and landfill work practice methodologies that may assist with future rulemaking.
EPA encourages all interested parties, including technology developers, landfill operators, communities with environmental justice concerns, environmental justice leaders, environmental groups, and state, local, and Tribal air agencies, to provide input and comments on the white papers in the non-regulatory docket. Note that EPA does not intend to provide individual responses to each comment received. The Agency will provide a separate opportunity for public comment on any future proposed rulemaking(s) for municipal solid waste landfills through a formal comment period announced in the Federal Register.
Learn more about the non-regulatory docket and read the white papers.
View the docket and submit comments.
|
|
EPA Posts Materials from Past Working Sessions on Battery Collection Best Practices and Labeling Guidelines
 In October and November, EPA posted summaries and presentation slides for the following two working sessions:
|
|
USDA Awards $8 Million for Food Loss and Waste Projects
 USDA’s Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program awarded $8 million in funding for food loss and waste projects to 14 organizations across the country. Funding for the projects, administered by the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program, comes from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Funded projects include community kitchens, gleaning organizations, insect farming, and reducing milk waste in childcare settings. Learn more about the awardees from SARE.
|
|
ReFED Publishes New Report on the Methane Impact of Food Waste
Last month, ReFED released a report on the methane impacts of food loss and waste in the U.S. with support from the Global Methane Hub. The report accompanies an update to ReFED’s Impact Calculator, which has long calculated overall greenhouse gas emissions from food waste in different scenarios. ReFED also added new data and features to its Insights Engine. Access the full methane report from ReFED.
|
|
Industrious Labs Publishes New Report on Federal Landfill Regulations and Methane Emissions Reduction
 Last month, Industrious Labs released a report outlining how updates to federal landfill regulations could help cut methane emissions. The report, “Turning Down the Heat: How the U.S. EPA can fight climate change by cutting landfill emissions,” discusses improved landfill gas capture systems with faster installation, alternative cover materials, and organics diversion. Access the full report from Industrious Labs.
|
|
Attend a Webinar Series Discussing AI in the Waste Stream on Dec. 10 & 12
 The Northeast Recycling Council is hosting a two-part webinar on the Benefits of Artificial Intelligence in the waste management and recycling industry. Part 1 will take place on Dec. 10 and Part 2 on Dec. 12. Learn about AI technologies, practical applications, and real-world case studies. Register for the webinar with NERC.
|
|
Register for a Webinar on Farms and the Compost Economy on Dec. 10
 On December 10, COOL Now (Compostable Organics Out of Landfills Now!) will host a webinar exploring how farms and farm-allied ventures can boost their sustainability and profitability by tapping into the growing compost market. Learn more and register with Zero Waste USA.
|
|
Reminder - $39 Million Available Through the Recycling Education and Outreach Grant Program, Apply by Dec. 20, 2024
 The funding for the REO grant program will provide approximately $39 million for one award. EPA seeks coalition applications that include three projects: (1) a project to develop and implement a national consumer wasted food reduction campaign; (2) a project that will increase the market for and sales of compost; and (3) a project that will increase education and outreach to households on composting. Applicants must demonstrate they will subaward a portion of the total award to implement education and outreach activities locally, which will benefit local communities. Read more about eligible applicants and activities for this funding opportunity for recycling education and outreach.
To learn more about the eligible entities, accepted projects, or other details involved, read the Notice of Funding Opportunity for the REO Grant Program and view the recorded webinar.
EPA also keeps a running list of questions and answers on the REO grant program here, and you can sign up to receive emails when the questions and answers webpage is updated here.
|
|
Reminder - Apply for Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grants for Communities Funding by Dec. 20
EPA is excited to announce the second round of grants for communities. These grants will provide approximately $58 million in awards ranging from $500,000 to $5 million each. The entities eligible to apply under this announcement are political subdivisions of states and territories. The EPA considers counties, cities, towns, parishes, and similar units of governments that have executive and legislative functions to be political subdivisions of states. The deadline to apply for the SWIFR Grants for Communities is December 20, 2024. For the full details, please visit EPA’s SWIFR Communities webpage.
about this funding opportunity, and
|
|
Reminder - Apply for President’s Environmental Student and Teacher Awards by Jan. 15, 2025
 EPA is requesting applications for the 2025 President’s Environmental Youth Awards and Presidential Innovation Awards for Environmental Educators. PEYA recognizes outstanding environmental stewardship projects from students in grades K–12 that promote environmental awareness and encourage community involvement. PIAEE recognizes outstanding grade K–12 educators who employ innovative approaches to environmental education and use the environment as a classroom for teaching.
Projects eligible for the awards can apply to a variety of environmental topics, including (but not limited to):
- Climate change.
- Environmental justice.
- Food waste.
- Lead in drinking water.
- Litter in oceans and waterways.
- Recycling.
- Agricultural practices.
- Using STEM in environmental education.
Application Deadline: January 15, 2025.
Find application and eligibility information on EPA’s PEYA page and EPA’s PIAEE page.
|
|
Reminder - Apply by Dec. 2, 2024 for the 2024 Region 4 Sustainable Materials Management Grants
EPA Region 4 released a notice of funding opportunity designed to address municipal recycling markets and/or promote strategies for preventing food loss and waste in the southeast.
Application deadline: December 2, 2024
Learn more about and apply for this funding opportunity at Grants.gov
|
|
Apply for USDA’s Rural Development Solid Waste Management Grants by Dec. 31, 2024
 USDA’s Solid Waste Management grant program for rural communities reduces or eliminates the pollution of water resources by funding eligible organizations that provide technical assistance or training to improve planning for – and management of – solid waste disposal sites. Eligible projects include technical assistance and training to help communities reduce the amount of solid waste coming into a landfill. Applications are due by December 31, 2024. Learn more about this funding opportunity.
|
|
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. |
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
