This agreement provides funding from the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA)

This $997,199 Cooperative Agreement awarded on April 1, 2024 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) Grant Program (CFDA 66.920) will fund the expansion and enhancement of the City of West Monroe, Louisiana's recycling infrastructure.

The grant will enable the city to expand its recycling facility, purchase new equipment like storage bins, grinders, and a baler, hire additional staff, and implement educational/marketing efforts to promote expanded recycling services. These activities will significantly increase the city's recycling capacity and capability to accept a wider range of materials, such as glass and tires. The project aims to reduce municipal solid waste generation and increase diversion from landfills and incineration across West Monroe and surrounding parishes, including disadvantaged communities that rely on the recycling facility.

EPA's solid waste infrastructure for recycling (swifr) grants for political subdivisions of states and territories will fund activities that will result in a significant decrease in the generation of municipal solid waste (MSW) and/or an increase in the diversion of MSW from landfills and incineration, as well as fund innovative solutions and programs that provide or increase access to prevention, reuse, mechanical recycling, anaerobic digestion, and composting. The purpose of this award is to enhance the city of west monroe's efforts to meet the swifr grants elements. Specifically, the city of west monroe will expand its current recycling infrastructure through an expansion of their recycling facility, equipment purchases, staff increases, and educational/marketing efforts. The city of west monroe has experienced year over year increases in recyclables collected since the inception of their recycling facility which they have outgrown. Expanding the facility and adding new equipment such as storage bins, a rubber grinder, a glass grinder, a horizontal baler, and a cargo box truck will significantly expand capacity and improve processes/efficiency. Additionally, the equipment purchases will allow the city to accept new items such as glass and tires. The city will also add one new full time position and two new part time positions so that the recycling facility can increase hours of operation. Education and marketing materials will be used to make residents aware of expanded recycling services and expanded hours of operation for the facility. Funding through this project will benefit the city's recycling program and multiple parishes/disadvantaged communities in the surrounding area that rely on the recycling facility. Activities:the activities to be performed include an expansion of the city of west monroe's recycling facility, purchasing equipment, hiring staff, and employing educational/marketing activities. These activities will expand capacity and improve processes/efficiency at the current facility. The facility will also be able to accept new materials such as tires and glass. The city will follow community-based social marketing to promote the new program and encourage sustainable behavior changes. Outreach strategies will be assessed to determine effectiveness and the city will evaluate the impact of the program after implementation. Funding through this project will benefit the city's recycling program and multiple parishes/disadvantaged communities in the surrounding area that rely on the recycling facility.subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include the enhancement of recycling infrastructure, expansion of materials accepted for collection, and an increase in collection of recyclable materials. The expected outcomes are number of infrastructure investments/enhancements, tons of municipal solid waste construction demolition MSW/candd collected, tons of MSW/candd generated per material type, three permanent jobs, reduction in GHG emissions, percentage of political subdivisions served, and number of disadvantaged communities served. The intended beneficiaries include residents/visitors in the city of west monroe and surrounding parishes, the general public of louisiana, human health, and the environment.