Farm and Ranch Solid Waste Clean Up and Abatement Grant

The Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) offers the Farm and Ranch Solid Waste Cleanup and Abatement Grant to support the remediation of illegal disposal sites on farm and ranch properties throughout California. This state-administered grant program operates under the authority of California Public Resources Code Section 48100 and is implemented in accordance with the regulatory definition provided in Title 14 CCR Section 17991(d). It aims to address the environmental and public health threats posed by unauthorized waste disposal on agricultural land, including areas used for livestock and crop production, aquaculture, horticulture, and other qualifying uses. Properties need not be actively used at the time of application but must be zoned or otherwise authorized for agricultural activity. The program provides up to $200,000 annually per applicant, with a maximum of $50,000 per cleanup site. Eligible costs include administration, waste disposal, equipment, materials, site security, and personnel. Applicants may also pursue abatement and prevention activities such as fencing or public education. Four funding cycles are available annually, and grant funding is contingent on state appropriations. A pilot pathway is available for applicants needing additional time to complete application components, allowing partial submissions initially, followed by full documentation after conditional approval. Eligible applicants include California cities, counties, Resource Conservation Districts, and federally recognized Native American Tribes. All projects must address sites that are illegal disposal locations, where the waste was not deposited by the landowner or their agents, and where responsible parties cannot be identified or are unable to pay for remediation. Sites must be in need of cleanup to mitigate public health or environmental risks and must align with the agricultural property definition cited in the program regulations. Applications must be submitted through CalRecycle’s Grants Management System (GMS), and each cycle has clearly defined due dates for both the application and required supplemental documents such as resolutions and environmentally preferable purchasing policies. Application deadlines for FY 2025-26 are set quarterly, beginning on July 8, 2025. Grant performance may begin upon receipt of a Notice to Proceed and continues through April 4, 2028. Applicants are evaluated based on eligibility, environmental risk, and project feasibility, with awards typically announced three months following each application cycle’s due date. CalRecycle reserves the right to modify program requirements before the issuance of the grant agreement. The agency encourages timely and complete applications, and grantees must comply with all finalized procedures and conditions to maintain funding eligibility throughout the performance period. For questions, applicants can contact Cathy Aggergaard at 916-341-6384 or via email at FarmAndRanch@calrecycle.ca.gov. Complete information, forms, and guidance are available on the Farm and Ranch Solid Waste Cleanup and Abatement Grant webpage hosted on CalRecycle's official site.

Ensure zoning documentation and waste responsibility statements are complete; pilot program offers flexibility in early submission.