Legacy Disposal Site Abatement Partial Grant Program

The Illegal Disposal Site Abatement Grant Program, administered by the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), supports the cleanup of solid waste disposal sites across California where illegal dumping poses risks to public health, safety, or the environment. This grant initiative responds to the increasing number of abandoned or underutilized properties affected by illegal waste disposal, which often causes a decline in economic value and contributes to broader environmental and social harm. The program aims to remediate these sites by providing reimbursement grants to public entities, enabling the transformation of blighted areas into usable, safe, and economically beneficial community spaces. Under Section 48020 of the Public Resources Code, CalRecycle offers financial assistance for cleanup efforts at sites where responsible parties are unknown, unable, or unwilling to conduct the necessary remediation. These grants serve as a crucial resource for public agencies tasked with waste removal, particularly in cases where environmental hazards or threats to community well-being are present. The funding helps address issues on properties that might otherwise remain neglected due to lack of resources or legal complexities. The total funding available for FY 2024–25 is $1,000,000, with individual grant awards capped at $500,000. The program operates on a reimbursement basis and is not open to private applicants. Eligible applicants include cities, counties, districts, state agencies, and joint powers authorities. Charter cities must comply with California Labor Code sections 1770–1782 to qualify for funding. Projects must fall within the jurisdiction of the applicant and demonstrate a need for solid waste cleanup to safeguard public or environmental health. Applications must be submitted through CalRecycle's Grants Management System (GMS). Each cycle includes clearly defined deadlines for submitting the full application and associated authorization documents. For Cycle 100, key dates included the application deadline of October 16, 2024, and the secondary submission deadline for authorization and environmental policies on November 13, 2024. A second cycle (Cycle 102) was available if funds remained, with a March 12, 2025, authorization deadline. Questions had to be submitted in writing before each application due date, and answers were made available on the Q&A page. Grant recipients were expected to receive conditional award notifications in December 2024 or April 2025, depending on the cycle. The grant term concludes on June 30, 2027, which is also the final deadline for submitting the final report and payment request. Grantees must adopt and submit an Environmentally Preferable Purchasing and Practices (EPPP) Policy if one is not already in place at the time of application. The program is issued regularly and has recurring funding cycles. The current cycle is closed, but based on the annual cadence and past open dates, the next cycle is anticipated to open in September 2025. Applicants are encouraged to prepare in advance and monitor CalRecycle’s website for updates or changes to guidelines and timelines. Inquiries should be directed to Grant.Assistance@calrecycle.ca.gov.

Ensure Labor Code 1782 compliance; adopt EPPP policy early