This notice announces the availability of funds and solicits applications that support the EPA Sustainable Materials Management Program. Applications may benefit States or communities throughout EPA Region 2 (New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands) however, all applications must benefit Puerto Rico and/or the U.S. Virgin Islands. Sustainable materials management (SMM) is a systemic approach to using and reusing materials more productively over their entire life cycles. It represents a change in how our society thinks about the use of natural resources and environmental protection. By looking at a product's entire
life cycle, we can find new opportunities to reduce environmental impacts, conserve resources and reduce costs. Developing markets for reused and/or recycled materials also falls under this domain.
Specifically, these funds will support training, demonstrations, and public education projects for the development of programs that support the sustainable management of organic waste and/or construction and demolition debris. While this RFA is open to cover all of EPA Region 2, i.e. New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, it is essential that Puerto Rico and/or the U.S. Virgin Islands benefit from the proposed project.