EPA's solid waste infrastructure for recycling (swifr) grants for tribes and intertribal consortia will fund projects that focus on encouraging environmentally sound post-consumer materials…

This $1,500,000 Cooperative Agreement was awarded on June 1, 2024 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) Grant Program (CFDA 66.920). The award funds a project by the Nelson Island Consortium, a non-profit organization and federally recognized Indian Tribe, to improve post-consumer materials management, reduce municipal solid waste generation, and increase waste diversion from landfills in the Nelson Island community. Key activities include providing comprehensive backhaul training for staff, setting up e-waste collection centers in seven villages, staging recycled items, shipping them to a Washington State recycler, conducting community outreach, and collecting data on the number of items recycled. This project aims to create a cleaner, healthier environment and protect public health in the Nelson Island community through enhanced solid waste management.

EPA's solid waste infrastructure for recycling (swifr) grants for tribes and intertribal consortia will fund projects that focus on encouraging environmentally sound post-consumer materials management; fund projects that result in a decrease in the generation of municipal solid waste and/or an increase in the diversion of municipal solid waste from landfills and incineration; and/or fund projects that provide or expand access to source reduction, reuse, recycling, backhaul, anaerobic digestion, and composting for tribes and intertribal consortia. The purpose of this award is to provide funding to the nelson island consortium to conduct a project that supports these elements.activities:the activities to be performed include: 1) provide comprehensive backhaul training for staff; 2) set-up storage centers in each of the seven village to collect e-waste, batteries, bulbs, and whites; 3) stage items to be recycled; 4) ship items to a washington state recycler; 5) provide community outreach; and 6) collect data on number of items recycled.subrecipient:the subawardee will provide backhaul training which will include DOT hazmat regulations (HMR), inventory, storage, packing, shipping, labeling, and shipping paperwork.outcomes:completion of these activities constitute the anticipated deliverables and will result in a cleaner, healthier environment, which will benefit and protect public health in the nelson island consortium community through the improvement of solid waste management.