Empty Glass Beverage Transportation Grant Program

The Empty Glass Beverage Transportation Grant Program is administered by the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) and is designed to improve the logistics and infrastructure for transporting empty glass beverage containers to in-state glass processing facilities using rail. Established under Section 14545 of the Public Resources Code, the program supports the state's broader recycling and environmental goals by facilitating more efficient and sustainable transportation methods within California. The grant program operates under a continuous annual appropriation structure, with $1 million made available yearly from the Beverage Container Recycling Fund. For the FY 2026–27 cycle, a total of $4 million has been allocated. The minimum grant request is $500,000, with a maximum of $4 million per award. Eligible applicants must provide a 100% funding match, which cannot include other CalRecycle funds. The program reimburses qualifying expenses and focuses on incentivizing rail-based transportation projects that serve certified glass processing facilities in California. Eligible applicants are limited to current Certified Glass Processors. These can include local government entities—cities, counties, or combined city-county governments—as defined under PRC Section 30109, and private for-profit entities authorized to operate in California. Applicants must be in good standing with all California regulatory agencies and registered properly based on their organizational structure. The projects must originate and operate entirely within California, with transportation sourced from California-based businesses. Eligible project activities include the purchase of equipment directly related to the transportation of empty glass beverage containers via rail, such as loaders, hoppers, and scales. Applicants may also request funding for supplies, rail transportation expenses, and construction or improvement of rail lines, including components like steel rails and wooden ties. Personnel costs directly tied to construction or project implementation are also allowed. All costs must be incurred within the grant term, which begins upon issuance of the Notice to Proceed and ends on April 1, 2029. The application process requires submission through CalRecycle’s Grants Management System (GMS) by March 26, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. An Environmentally Preferable Purchasing and Practices (EPPP) Policy must be adopted and uploaded by the secondary due date of April 21, 2026. Required authorization documents must also be submitted by this date if not included initially. Applications must include a completed narrative proposal, work plan, quotes for budget items, and all required forms provided by CalRecycle. Applications are reviewed and scored based on an 80-point system, with a minimum of 60 points required for funding consideration. Successful applicants will be notified in July 2026. Grants are awarded conditionally, pending return of signed grant agreements and confirmation of compliance with any outstanding obligations to CalRecycle. Reimbursements are processed throughout the grant term, with 10% withheld until final reporting and documentation are approved.

Ensure all forms use official templates. Include all authorization documents. Demonstrate site readiness through supporting documentation.