Household Hazardous Waste Grant, HD44 (Construction)

The Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), a department within the California Environmental Protection Agency, is offering the Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Grant Program for Fiscal Year 2025-26 through a competitive construction cycle. CalRecycle’s mission includes promoting the reduction and safe handling of solid and hazardous waste in the state. This specific grant cycle supports the expansion and construction of permanent or recycle-only HHW collection facilities across California to strengthen infrastructure and enhance public health and environmental safety. The purpose of this grant is to support local governments and agencies in the implementation of safe and effective HHW programs. These programs may include collection, source reduction, reuse, public education, and recycling. Projects eligible for this funding must be past the design phase and ready for construction—classified as "shovel ready." Applicants must have completed significant planning milestones including site analysis, conceptual design, and the majority of local approval processes. Proper permitting, licensing, and siting procedures must be well underway at the time of application. CalRecycle requires applicants to demonstrate their readiness through submission of a completed General Checklist of Business Permits, Licenses and Filings form (CalRecycle 669). Eligible projects fall into two categories: the construction of new permanent or recycle-only HHW collection facilities, or the expansion or upgrade of existing ones. Projects not fitting into these specific categories will not qualify. A total of $500,000 is available in this grant cycle, with a maximum of $250,000 per award. Only one application per qualified entity will be accepted, though applicants may apply as either individual applicants or as part of a regional application with a lead agency. Eligible applicants include local governments such as cities and counties with direct HHW responsibilities, regional or local sanitation and waste agencies, Joint Powers Authorities with solid or hazardous waste responsibilities, and qualifying Tribal Entities. Tribal applicants must either be federally recognized or able to prove they meet the governmental criteria relevant to the program. Applicants must also comply with California Labor Code section 1782 regarding eligibility of charter cities. The application process opens upon release of the guidelines, and questions may be submitted until August 12, 2025. Applications must be submitted via the Grants Management System (GMS) by August 26, 2025. All required authorization documents and an Environmentally Preferable Purchasing and Practices (EPPP) Policy must be submitted by September 30, 2025, if not included in the initial application. Grant awards will be announced in December 2025, and the grant term runs from the Notice to Proceed date through February 28, 2030, with all final reports and payment requests due by that date. Questions about the program can be directed to UsedOilHHW@CalRecycle.ca.gov. Technical assistance for the application system can be sought at grantassistance@calrecycle.ca.gov. All applications must be submitted through CalRecycle’s GMS portal, and it is the applicant’s responsibility to stay informed through the Q&A webpage throughout the application window.