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 Gila River Indian Community (GRIC) was awarded a $1,276,585 Cooperative Agreement from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) Grant Program (CFDA 66.920). The purpose of this award is to enhance GRIC's efforts to improve municipal solid waste management, recycling infrastructure, and post-consumer materials management on the Gila River Indian Reservation. Key project activities include:

Evaluating the existing residential recycling stream, establishing performance baselines, and tracking recycling and diversion rates; Developing a formal recycling plan and conducting community outreach on recycling best practices; Purchasing equipment to expand recycling programs and reduce contamination; Launching new collection programs for electronics, batteries, motor oil, paint, and antifreeze; and Collaborating with the Akimel O'otham Piiposh Youth Council to produce public service announcements on recycling and community cleanup. The anticipated outcomes include infrastructure investments, increases in municipal solid waste recycling and diversion, job creation, and greenhouse gas emission reductions. The ultimate goal is to provide the 12,000 community members and 3,000 households of the Gila River Indian Community with enhanced access to recycling and waste reduction services.

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 gila river indian community's efforts to meet the swifr grants elements. The gila river indian community will evaluate its current waste stream and build physical and programmatic capacity to address recycling needs. Activities:the activities to be performed are: the gila river indian community's department of environmental quality (DEQ) and department of public works (DPW) will evaluate existing residential recycling stream to identify opportunities, establish a numerical baseline for tracking, and track recycling and diversion rates each month throughout project duration and beyond. DEQ will coordinate among DPW, DEQ, and community leadership to write a formal recycling plan and will report internally on project implementation and tracking. DEQ will conduct outreach to tribal residents and tribal employees on best practices for recycling and reducing contamination of recycling stream. DEQ and DPW will purchase equipment to expand recycling and reduce contamination rates. DEQ will launch collection of electronics, batteries, motor oil, paint and antifreeze all of which can be recycled within the greater phoenix area. DEQ will purchase curbside recycle containers and yard bins for residents to participate in recycling program expansion. DEQ will collaborate with the akimel o'otham piiposh youth council to produce public service announcements focusing on recycling and community cleanup activities. DEQ will share progress and findings with other arizona tribes via monthly meetings coordinated by the inter-tribal council of arizona. DEQ will evaluate progress by tracking both recycling rates and solid waste disposal on a monthly basis, develop recommendations for future recycling and include information in semi-annual reports to the tribal council. Subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include a recycling assessment, a recycling plan, community outreach with materials, metrics put on website, two side loaders, modular storage units, staff training, new recycling bins, 8 CY-containers, 5 psas, recycling rates tracked. The expected outcomes include the infrastructure investments/enhancements made spanning the spectrum of collection through end market development (e.g., post-consumer materials management systems created); an increase in tons of MSW/candd collected, recycled, or composted, or managed via other management pathways in the community in which the project serves; an increase in tons of MSW/candd generated per material type and source in the community in which the project serves, to include a) mixed waste recycling; b) pounds of recycling collected in new recycling categories, e.g. electronics, batteries, and waste oil; two (2) job vacancies will be filled during the project period; 130.35 MTCO2E savings over the project period; an increase in tons of electronic waste recycled as measured in total weight of products recycled; an increase in gallons of used oil recycled; an increase in tons of wet cell/dry cell batteries collected and sent to be recycled; an increase in gallons of antifreeze collected and recycled. The beneficiaries are the 12,000 community members and 3000 households of the gila river indian community that live on the reservation.