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…

The Native Village of Shaktoolik received a $1,413,015 Cooperative Agreement from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) Grant Program. The award will fund the procurement of critical solid waste management equipment, including an excavator, dozer, drum roller, skid steer, and motor grader. These equipment purchases will enhance the tribe's post-consumer materials management infrastructure, improve waste collection and recycling operations, and promote environmental protection and community resilience in Shaktoolik, Alaska. The project aims to reduce waste generation, increase diversion from landfills, and support the tribe's subsistence lifestyle and cultural practices. The funding period is from May 1, 2024, to December 31, 2025.

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 will 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 tribal members of intertribal consortia. The purpose of this award is to enhance the native village of shaktoolik's efforts to meet the swifr grants elements. The native village of shaktoolik will purchase equipment to increase and expand on the community's materials management infrastructure. The purchasing of this equipment supports the national recycling strategy objectives of increasing collection and improving material management infrastructure by allowing the community to relocate recyclables to an easily accessible and safe area and reducing contamination in the recycled materials stream by allowing the community to organize and sort reusable items, protect the current solid waste area and making IT more efficient to backhaul items. Activities:the activities to be performed are grant management and project management, the procurement of recycling equipment (including soliciting quotes from vendors, evaluating quotes, making equipment selections), and the mobilization, inspection, and repairs of equipment (including repairing the equipment as needed, weatherizing the equipment, and coordinating the shipment of the equipment via barge service). The equipment being procured includes an excavator, dozer, drum roller, skid steer, and motor grader.subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include quarterly and final reports on the progress of the grant. The excavator, dozer, drum roller, skid steer, and motor grader will be used to improve the tribe's post-consumer materials management in their waste collection and recycling operations. The expected outcomes include promoting environmental justice and civil rights at the tribal level, protecting the solid waste management system in shaktoolik, preparing for and responding to environmental emergencies, and ensuring the safety of chemicals for people and the environment by promoting pollution prevention, protecting the subsistence lifestyle and culture of shaktoolik, and the number of infrastructure enhancements, along with amount of materials managed. The intended beneficiaries include the members of the native village of shaktoolik.