Grant Programs
Recycling District Grant Opportunities
The Recycling District offers several grants to eligible entities for the development, improvement or promotion of recycling programs, projects or events. If you would like more information on any of the District’s grant programs or would like to apply, please email us.
Recycling Makes Sense Grant Program
Eligibility
Cities, villages and townships with recycling programs that are not operated by the District directly. Programs may be under contract with a private contractor to provide the service or may be operated by the municipality directly.
Learn More
The Recycling Makes Sense Grant Program has many goals:
- to substantially increase residential recycling rates;
- to create a results-driven, incentive based grant program which encourages all recycling stakeholders to improve and enhance programs to achieve greater waste reduction rates;
- to foster greater cooperation across the District and encourage stakeholders to share successful ideas and programs and to spur greater innovation and efficiency in existing programs;
- to create an equitable system for funding recycling programs;
- and to create a sustainable recycling infrastructure throughout the District.
Earned funding must go toward one of the District’s Fundable Expenses (a list is provided to all recipients). Recipients will be required to track tonnages and expenses in a web-based tracking program.
Funding Available
Base rate for drop-off programs, subscription curbside programs, and non-subscription curbside programs is $25/ton. Drop-off programs may earn additional dollars if they meet other criteria (maximum rate is $45/ton):
- $5 more per ton if they provide 90% access rate for residents in the county, keep their public drop-off site open 40 hours a week, and collect at least five materials from the list provided in the District’s Plan (they must meet these requirements before receiving further additional funding)
- $5 more per ton if they collect at least seven materials from the list provided in the District’s Plan
- $5 more per ton if they average 30 pounds per resident in the previous year
- $5 more per ton if they average 80 pounds per resident in the previous year
Non-subscription curbside programs may earn additional dollars if they meet other criteria (maximum rate is $50/ton):
- $10 more per ton if they provide 90% access rate for residents in the county, collect one time per week, and collect at least five materials from the list provided in the District’s Plan (they must meet these requirements before receiving further additional funding)
- $5 more per ton if they collect at least seven materials from the list provided in the District’s Plan
- $5 more per ton if they average 60 pounds per resident in the previous year
- $5 more per ton if they average 80 pounds per resident in the previous year
Recycling Drop-Off Clean-Ups/Host Community Group Grants
Eligibility
Local governments who serve as host communities within the three respective counties to offer services at drop-off locations.
The District offers this grant program to assist in the maintenance and operation of recycling, yard waste, and tire drop-off facilities. Maintenance and operation services may include assisting residents bringing recyclable materials to the drop-off (i.e., carrying and sorting recyclables), conducting litter clean-up at the drop-off locations and properly disposing of contamination in the recycling bins (i.e., disposal of unacceptable materials), and loading materials into collection bins. Host Community Grant recipients are expected to keep drop-offs clean, free from debris and available to all District residents.
Funding Available
Recipients can earn up to $2,500 annually for the purpose of cleaning up or maintaining targeted sites such as high-volume sites or sites with significant dumping.
Program Start-Up Grants
Eligibility
Local governments.
Summary
The Program Start-Up Grants were designed to help initiate new recycling and yard waste programs as well as enhance existing recycling and yard waste programs. Funding is provided to programs that support the District’s efforts to meet state recycling goals.
- the highest priority will be given to pay-as-you-throw programs with weekly recycling or yard waste curbside collection;
- preference will be given to curbside recycling or yard waste programs over drop-off programs;
- and preference will be given to new programs versus modification or expansion of existing programs.
The funding may be used for equipment, containers, fencing, cameras and maintenance as well as other costs associated with the operation of the recycling or yard waste program.
Funding Available
Total amount allocated annually is $150,000. Past awards have ranged from $500-$46,000.
Mini-Grants
Eligibility
General—local municipalities and non-profits; Education—local schools.
Learn More
The mini grant program is designed to assist with program needs or educational outreach. Mini-grants are competitive and reimbursable. Funding may be used for education outreach and awareness, equipment and signage.
Funding Available
Up to $2,500 for General Mini-grants. The mini-grants are limited to one grant per applicant per year. Grant awards are dependent upon budgetary availability.
Recycling and Composting Infrastructure Enhancement Grants
Eligibility
Recycling processors and composting facilities located within The District.
Learn More
Recycling and Composting Infrastructure Enhancement Grant funding targets facilities with the following set of criteria:
- identified recycling capacity gaps;
- ability to target new tonnage; ability to target new materials;
- and operational need.
The intent of the recycling and composting infrastructure enhancement grants is to build upon existing recycling and composting infrastructure within the District which assures processing capacity as the District’s programs expand to include new material or higher volume of material. Any processor who is awarded a recycling and composting infrastructure enhancement grant must participate in the District’s annual recycling survey for the Annual District Report (ADR) and provide waste reduction reporting to the District for as long as the facility remains operational.
Funding Available
Please inquire if interested. Past awards have ranged from $16,000-$89,000.
Sheriff Department Grant
Eligibility
County Sheriff Department.
Summary
The District awards the Sheriff Department Grant to fund a Litter Deputy for solid waste enforcement and landfill patrols.
Each Sheriff Department in each county is awarded $95,000. This amount is for the equivalent of one paid sheriff deputy and/or related expenses to perform the duties needed by the District.
Health Department Grant
Eligibility
Ohio EPA-approved Health Department.
The District awards Health Department Grants to provide residential well testing and inspection of monitoring wells around solid waste landfills, inspection of solid waste entering solid facilities, and investigations of open dumps/scrap tire dumps.
Funding Available
A total of $325,000 is provided to the following health departments:
- Stark County Health Department ($170,000),
- Tuscarawas County Health Department ($85,000),
- Wayne County Health Department ($35,000)
- City of Canton Health Department ($35,000).
The amounts are based on the number of solid waste facilities in each county as well as other solid waste duties.
Ohio EPA’s Recycling and Litter Prevention Grant Opportunities
The Division of Recycling & Litter Prevention’s competitive grant funding is targeted at Ohio’s businesses that propose to create the infrastructure necessary for successful markets of recyclable materials and related products.The grant program requires a sponsoring entity, and the District is eligible to sponsor requests and can provide assistance during the application process. For more information on these grant opportunities, check out the the Ohio EPA’s website.

Community Development Grants
Eligibility
Government agencies, schools, non-profits.
Summary
Community Development Grants allow Ohio communities to support and expand community recycling and litter prevention efforts. Grants provide funding for equipment to support recycling collection and materials processing. Those eligible to apply include municipal corporations, counties, townships, villages, state colleges or universities, solid waste management districts and authorities, park districts, health districts, statewide recycling and litter prevention trade associations, non-profit organizations and state agencies.
Litter Management Grants
Eligibility
Government agencies, non-profits.
Summary
Litter Management Grants allow Ohio communities, local government agencies and non-profit organizations to support litter and tire amnesty collection projects. Additionally, grant funding is available to support Keep Ohio beautiful (KOB) Communities and KOB activities. Grant proposals must include an actual clean-up activity to take place on public land or public waterways.
Market Development Grants
Eligibility
Businesses, non-profits.
Summary
Market Development Grants are offered to Ohio businesses and non-profit organizations that propose to create equipment infrastructure for successful markets of recyclable materials and related products.
Scrap Tire Grants
Eligibility
Businesses, government agencies, non-profits.
Summary
Scrap Tire Grants provide financial assistance to Ohio’s businesses, communities and non-profit organizations to convert manufacturing operations to accept scrap tire material, expand tire processing operations or utilize scrap tire material in civil engineering construction projects or manufactured products.