Title
Application for Grants for the Solid Waste Program from the NC Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
Action
ACTION:
1) Approve submission of grant application up to $5,000,000 to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for the Helene Recovery Recycling Infrastructure (HRRI) Grant.
2.) Approve submission of a grant application up to $50,000 to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for the 2026 Community Waste Reduction and Recycling Grant Program (CWRAR).
3.) Approve submission of a grant application up to $150,000 to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for the Multifamily Recycling Grant Program.
4.) If awarded, adopt the respective Grant Ordinance and recognize, receive, and appropriate the awarded amount to the Solid Waste Grant Fund (G701) for the duration of the grant award.
Staff Contact: Jeffrey Smithberger, LUESA - Solid Waste Director
Presentation: No
BACKGROUND/JUSTIFICATION:
Mecklenburg County’s Solid Waste Management Program works to minimize solid waste and support the development of recycling infrastructure in the community and actively pursues grant opportunities that are available to help defray costs. The NC Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) recently advertised three competitive grants for communities in North Carolina. The Solid Waste Program would like to apply for each of these grants and is hereby requesting approval from the BOCC to apply for the maximum allowed under each of these three grants, with awarded funding being received and appropriated to the Solid Waste Grant Fund (G701). These grants are:
1. The Helene Recovery Recycling Infrastructure Grant: Supports counties and municipalities in restoring, replacing, or upgrading recycling equipment and infrastructure disrupted by the impacts of Tropical Storm Helene. No match needed.
2. The Community Waste Reduction and Recycling (CWRAR) Grant: Provides funding to support local recycling expansion projects, equipment purchases, and waste reduction initiatives. Match of 20% required.
3. The Multifamily Recycling Grant: Supports improved recycling access and infrastructure for multi-family communities including carts, collection points, signage, and education. Match of 10% is required.
We envision that the Helene Recovery grant would supply infrastructure for programmatic needs at the Material Recycling Facilities (MRF’s), and other solid waste acceptance and processing centers such as sorting and processing equipment, for improving the handling, sortation and marketing of recyclable materials.
The Community Waste Reduction and Recycling Grant would be utilized to prioritize work associated with removing lithium-ion batteries, solar panels and other electronic wastes, this includes infrastructure for the new facilities such as the Steele Creek and Monroe Road Centers, that are under construction. It will also be used to work with local groups on food waste reduction activities.
The Multifamily Recycling Grant will be used to establish a pilot recycling program at several multifamily buildings in the Mecklenburg County region to work toward a better system for those type of properties to manage recyclables and reduce waste that is otherwise placed in landfills.
The Waste Management Advisory Board (WMAB) has encouraged staff to apply for the DEQ grant at their December 9, 2025, meeting.
PROCUREMENT BACKGROUND:
N/A
POLICY IMPACT:
N/A
FISCAL IMPACT:
Increase revenue and associated expenses in the Solid Waste Grant Fund (G701) in the awarded amount. County match of up to $25,000 required. All funds would be from the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund and no County dollars are required.