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

Environmental Protection Agency Region 3 awarded a cooperative agreement to County of Delaware in the amount of $2,075,145 on December 31, 2025, under the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Infrastructure Grants program (CFDA 66.920), with an additional $2,922,925 contingent upon NEPA approval. County of Delaware will construct a composting facility, a recycling hub, and a permanent household hazardous waste collection facility in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The recipient will establish food and organic waste drop-off stations throughout the county, purchase equipment for composting facility operations, supply bins, manage collection and transportation of organic waste materials, and conduct education and outreach activities to support the project. A local organic waste hauler will handle collection, transportation, and tracking of organics. These activities align with SWIFR program objectives to decrease municipal solid waste generation and increase diversion of waste from landfills and incineration through prevention, reuse, mechanical recycling, anaerobic digestion, and composting. The award period runs through December 31, 2028, and performance occurs in Pennsylvania.

This action awards incremental federal funds in the amount of $2,075,145. Federal funds in the amount of $2,922,925 remain contingent upon availability and upon approval of nepa (national environmental policy act) review. EPA's solid waste infrastructure for recycling (swifr) grants for political subdivisions of states and territories funds 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 delaware county's efforts to meet the swifr grants elements. Specifically, delaware county will construct a composting facility, a recycling hub, and a permanent household hazardous waste (HHW) collection facility. Food/organic waste drop-off stations will be created. The county will supply the bins, handle collection, transportation, and tracking of the organic diversion activities. The new composting facility will allow for increased collection of organics, HHW, and traditional recycling materials. Improved access to materials management infrastructure will be established for communities in delaware county. Activities:the activities to be performed include construction of a composting facility, a recycling hub, and a permanent household hazardous waste (HHW) collection facility and establishment of food/organic waste drop-off stations. These stations will be serviced via a local organic waste hauler who will supply the bins, handle collection, transportation, and tracking of the organics. Equipment will be purchased for the operation of the composting facility. Education and outreach activities will be conducted to support the project including: the creation of an advisory committee with public meetings to share the vision for the project with the community; educating community members on composting, the importance of food waste diversions, and the recycling system; and informing residents about the services that will be available to them. Subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include: the construction of a composting facility, a recycling hub, and a permanent household hazardous waste (HHW) collection facility; the creation of up to 4 organics drop-off stations; the production of compost from approximately 12,000 tons of organic materials per year that will be diverted from the landfill and incineration streams; and the creation of 4 full-time green industry jobs; 14 temporary jobs (during construction) and 1 temporary job associated with hauling services (5 years). The expected outcomes from the development of this composting facility in delaware county are improved environmental conditions for county communities and its residents. These conditions include improved air quality, reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and other pollutants, and the diversion of organic materials from the landfill and incineration streams to composting. The intended beneficiaries include the communities in delaware county.