Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA R2LCRD SMMS 2023 1
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is offering Sustainable Materials Management Grants under funding opportunity number EPA R2LCRD SMMS 2023 1. This is a discretionary grant program (CFDA 66.808) designed to support the EPA Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) Program in EPA Region 2, which covers New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and eight Indian Nations. The overall purpose is to help states and local communities advance practical, on-the-ground projects that improve how materials are produced, used, and managed, with the goal of reducing environmental impacts while also conserving resources and potentially lowering costs.
At the center of the opportunity is the SMM approach, which focuses on the full life cycle of products and materials rather than treating waste as an end-of-pipe issue. In plain terms, the EPA is encouraging applicants to look upstream and across the entire system: how materials are sourced, manufactured, transported, used, reused, and ultimately discarded. By taking that life-cycle view, projects can identify points where interventions like prevention, reuse, better collection systems, improved recycling, and smarter purchasing can cut greenhouse gas emissions, reduce pollution, and keep valuable materials in circulation longer.
This particular request for applications highlights two main program priorities. The first is Sustainable Management of Food, which typically includes efforts to prevent food waste, improve food recovery and redistribution, support composting or anaerobic digestion where appropriate, and build community or institutional systems that keep organics out of landfills. The second priority is Sustainable Packaging, which generally involves reducing unnecessary packaging, improving recyclability and reuse, piloting or expanding collection and processing for packaging materials, and supporting transitions to packaging systems that use fewer resources and generate less waste overall. Applications are expected to align clearly with one or both of these priorities and show how the proposed work will produce measurable environmental and community benefits within Region 2.
The EPA anticipates making about four awards, with a maximum award size (ceiling) of $200,000 per grant. The opportunity was created on July 25, 2023, and the original closing date listed is September 15, 2023, with applicants directed to consult Section IV of the official funding announcement for the most accurate and complete deadline details. Eligibility is not limited to only state agencies; it is described broadly as "Others," with additional eligibility specifics provided in the announcement itself, which typically means interested applicants should review the eligibility section carefully to confirm their organization type and any partnership requirements.
Overall, the grant opportunity is aimed at funding targeted projects that can help communities in EPA Region 2 move toward more sustainable materials use, with a strong emphasis on reducing food-related waste and improving packaging systems through prevention, reuse, and better materials management strategies.Apply for EPA R2LCRD SMMS 2023 1
- The Environmental Protection Agency in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS MANAGEMENT GRANTS" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 66.808.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 25, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 15, 2023 See Section IV of the funding opportunity announcement for close date information.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this grant opportunity called?
This opportunity is the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Sustainable Materials Management Grants. It is offered under funding opportunity number EPA R2LCRD SMMS 2023 1.
What is the purpose of the EPA Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) Grants in this announcement?
The purpose is to support the EPA Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) Program in EPA Region 2 by funding practical, on-the-ground projects that improve how materials are produced, used, and managed. The overall goal is to reduce environmental impacts, conserve resources, and potentially lower costs for states and local communities.
What is meant by the “Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) approach”?
The SMM approach emphasizes the full life cycle of products and materials rather than focusing only on waste disposal. It looks at how materials are sourced, manufactured, transported, used, reused, and ultimately discarded, and encourages interventions that reduce impacts across that whole system.
Why does the EPA emphasize a life-cycle approach instead of treating waste as an end-of-pipe issue?
Because life-cycle thinking helps identify upstream and system-wide opportunities for prevention, reuse, improved collection, improved recycling, and smarter purchasing. These interventions can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce pollution, and keep valuable materials circulating longer.
Which EPA region does this funding opportunity apply to?
This funding opportunity is for EPA Region 2.
Which locations are included in EPA Region 2 for this grant?
EPA Region 2 includes New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and eight Indian Nations.
What types of projects is the EPA trying to fund through this opportunity?
The EPA is aiming to fund targeted, practical projects that help communities advance more sustainable materials use, with a clear alignment to one or both of the stated priorities: Sustainable Management of Food and Sustainable Packaging.
What are the main program priorities in this request for applications?
There are two main priorities: (1) Sustainable Management of Food and (2) Sustainable Packaging.
What kinds of activities fall under the Sustainable Management of Food priority?
The announcement describes this priority as typically including efforts to prevent food waste, improve food recovery and redistribution, support composting or anaerobic digestion where appropriate, and build community or institutional systems that keep organics out of landfills.
What kinds of activities fall under the Sustainable Packaging priority?
The announcement describes this priority as generally involving reducing unnecessary packaging, improving recyclability and reuse, piloting or expanding collection and processing for packaging materials, and supporting transitions to packaging systems that use fewer resources and generate less waste overall.
Do proposed projects need to align with both priorities?
No. Applications are expected to align clearly with one or both of the priorities (Sustainable Management of Food and/or Sustainable Packaging).
What outcomes should applicants be prepared to demonstrate?
Applications are expected to show how the proposed work will produce measurable environmental and community benefits within EPA Region 2, consistent with the life-cycle and materials management focus described in the opportunity.
How many awards does the EPA expect to make?
The EPA anticipates making about four awards.
What is the maximum award amount for a single grant?
The maximum award size (ceiling) is $200,000 per grant.
What type of grant program is this?
This is a discretionary grant program.
What is the CFDA number listed for this program?
The CFDA number listed is 66.808.
What is the funding opportunity number (FON) for this announcement?
The funding opportunity number is EPA R2LCRD SMMS 2023 1.
When was this funding opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on July 25, 2023.
What is the closing date for applications?
The original closing date listed is September 15, 2023. Applicants are directed to consult Section IV of the official funding announcement for the most accurate and complete deadline details.
Where should applicants look to confirm the final deadline and submission requirements?
Applicants should consult Section IV of the official funding announcement for the most accurate and complete deadline details.
Who is eligible to apply based on the information provided here?
Eligibility is described broadly as “Others,” and additional eligibility specifics are provided in the official announcement. Interested applicants should review the eligibility section carefully to confirm their organization type and any partnership requirements.
Is this grant only for state agencies?
No. The eligibility description indicates it is not limited to only state agencies, and is described broadly as “Others,” with the detailed eligibility criteria provided in the official announcement.
What is the geographic scope for “community benefits” mentioned in the opportunity?
The opportunity emphasizes measurable environmental and community benefits within EPA Region 2 (New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and eight Indian Nations).
What does “practical, on-the-ground projects” imply in the context of this grant?
It indicates the EPA is looking to fund applied projects that can be implemented in real settings (states and local communities), rather than purely conceptual efforts, and that can show measurable benefits aligned with the SMM priorities.
What kinds of strategies does the EPA highlight as examples of SMM interventions?
The opportunity highlights prevention, reuse, better collection systems, improved recycling, and smarter purchasing as examples of interventions that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce pollution, and keep materials in circulation longer.
What environmental benefits is the program aiming to achieve?
The program aims to reduce environmental impacts, including cutting greenhouse gas emissions and reducing pollution, by improving how materials are produced, used, and managed across their life cycle.
How does this grant opportunity relate to cost savings?
The opportunity notes that improving materials management can conserve resources and potentially lower costs, alongside reducing environmental impacts.
If a project involves composting or anaerobic digestion, is that relevant to this grant?
Yes. Composting or anaerobic digestion is specifically mentioned as part of the Sustainable Management of Food priority, where appropriate, especially as part of systems designed to keep organics out of landfills.
If a project focuses on improving packaging recyclability or reuse, is that relevant to this grant?
Yes. Improving packaging recyclability and reuse is specifically mentioned under the Sustainable Packaging priority, along with reducing unnecessary packaging and improving collection and processing.
Is the grant focused only on recycling?
No. The opportunity emphasizes a broader SMM life-cycle approach that includes prevention, reuse, improved collection systems, recycling, and smarter purchasing, rather than focusing on recycling alone.
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