Grant Details
The Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) will administer the RIG4 program to support start-up costs for Qualifying Tribal Entities recycling programs, which shall be limited to recycling centers, mobile unit programs, reverse vending machines, or bag drop programs. We anticipate announcing grant awards during CalRecycle's January 2026 Monthly Public Meeting.
Funding
- $15,000,000 available for fiscal year 2023-24.
- Up to $3,000,000 is the maximum available per applicant.
Eligibility Requirements
Eligible Applicants
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Qualifying Tribal Entities. A Qualifying Tribal Entity is defined as a tribe, band, nation or other organized group or community, residing within the borders of California, which:
- is recognized for special programs and services provided by the United States because of the status of its members as Native Americans; or
- can establish that it is a government entity, and which meets the criteria of the grant program.
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Qualifying Tribal Entity applicants can apply as:
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Existing Certified Recycling Center. An existing certified recycling center is defined as an operation certified by CalRecycle to accept empty beverage containers and pay California Redemption Value (CRV) to consumers.
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New Recycling Center Business. A new recycling center business is defined as an applicant who intends to apply and is eligible to become a certified recycling center. This can include, but is not limited to, beverage dealers. The new recycling center must be certified by CalRecycle’s Division of Recycling prior to the Notice to Proceed (NTP) email.
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Community Service Programs (SPs). Community Service Programs are operated by a nonprofit/charitable organization with tax exempt status. SPs are not able to pay CRV. SPs may operate Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs), engage in setting up drop-off bins at specific sites, or collect from various locations such as schools, community centers, or parks. A new Community Service Program must be certified by CalRecycle’s Division of Recycling prior to the NTP email.
Innovative Method of Redemption Definitions
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Bag Drop Recycling Center Programs. A recycling mechanism at which consumers can drop off empty beverage containers for redemption in a sealed bag, sealed box, or other sealed receptacle.
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Mobile Unit Programs. A recycling location or locations where empty beverage containers are collected using a receptacle that is hosted by an anchor recycling center.
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Reverse Vending Machine (RVM) Programs. A mechanical device which accepts one or more types of empty beverage containers and issues a cash refund or a redeemable credit slip with a value not less than the container’s refund value.
Eligible Projects
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All projects must be located within an unserved zone, or no zone, at time of award unless either of the following exceptions apply:
- The applicant is the recycling center currently serving the zone.
- They are the sole recycling center within the zone.
Eligible Projects Include:
- Establishing a new Recycling Center (RC) that uses an innovative method of redemption.
- Updating an existing Recycling Center (RC) that uses an innovative method of redemption.
- Setting up a new Community Service Program that uses an innovative method of collection.
- Updating an existing Community Service Program that uses an innovative method of collection.
- Re-establishment of Recycling Centers (RC) Due to Destruction from Wildfires. Funds from this cycle may be used to re-establish Recycling Centers that had been destroyed or experienced damages due to a wildfire within the preceding ten years.
All projects must comply with adopted regulations and requirements. Applicants may submit only one application which may include multiple innovative methods of redemption and eligible projects.
Eligible costs are limited to the following:
Project Requirements
Projects must be located within California and service California-located businesses. All applications will be required to provide access agreements (Letter of Intent and/or Memorandum of Understanding) for the proposed site location(s) at the time of application. For existing Recycling Centers, Recycling Center Certification documents must be submitted at the time of application. For new Recycling Centers, certification must be secured prior to the issuance of the Notice To Proceed (NTP) email. Community Service Program Certification Documents should also be submitted at the time of application, if applicable, or certification must be secured prior to the issuance of the NTP email.
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