Tire-Derived Aggregate Grant Program 2025-2026

The Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) administers the Tire-Derived Aggregate (TDA) Grant Program for fiscal year 2025–26, authorized under Sections 42872 and 42873 of the Public Resources Code. CalRecycle is a California state agency focused on recycling, waste reduction, and environmental sustainability. This program aims to divert waste tires from landfills, prevent illegal dumping, and promote markets for recycled-content tire products. Tire-derived aggregate is produced from shredded tires and serves as a lightweight, free-draining, and cost-effective alternative to conventional lightweight aggregates, offering solutions for engineering challenges such as slope stabilization, drainage, and vibration mitigation. The program supports projects in five categories: mechanically stabilized TDA for retaining walls, low impact development projects for storm water mitigation including infiltration galleries, lightweight fill for slope stabilization, embankment fill, landslide repair, and retaining walls, vibration mitigation under rail lines, and landfill applications such as aggregate replacement in leachate and gas collection systems and drainage layers. Only California-generated waste tires processed within the state may be used. Project sites must be located in California, with minimum TDA use requirements of 500 tons for most projects and 200 tons for low impact development projects. Landfill projects have specific volume restrictions per linear foot of collection or injection lines. Eligible applicants include all California local government entities, special districts, joint powers authorities with all members otherwise eligible, public school districts, state agencies, University of California campuses, California State University campuses, California Community Colleges, private for-profit entities that are California-based or have an operational presence in the state, qualifying nonprofit organizations, and qualifying tribal entities. Applicants must own the real property where the project is located or secure written access rights. All relevant project personnel must complete CalRecycle-sponsored technical training prior to implementation. A total of $750,000 is available for FY 2025–26, with a maximum of $375,000 per individual grant award. The grant term begins upon issuance of the Notice to Proceed and ends April 1, 2028. Applications must be submitted via CalRecycle’s Grants Management System (GMS) by one of three due dates, depending on cycle: July 17, 2025 (Cycle 25), October 16, 2025 (Cycle 26), or January 13, 2026 (Cycle 27). Secondary deadlines for required authorization documents and Environmentally Preferable Purchasing and Practices (EPPP) Policies are August 19, 2025; November 20, 2025; and February 10, 2026, respectively. Tentative award months are September 2025, December 2025, and March 2026. Final reports and payment requests are due by April 1, 2028. Applications require detailed project design plans at least 50 percent complete at submission and 100 percent complete prior to project start, including cost estimates, location details, type and quantity of TDA, and any analysis needed to validate the design. The application package must include an application certification, business permits and licenses checklist for certain applicants, plans and specifications, project summary and calculation worksheet, and an authorizing resolution or letter of commitment. Only one application per applicant is allowed, but multiple projects may be included in one application. All documents must follow official CalRecycle formats, and electronic signatures must meet specific requirements. Grant awards are contingent upon the grantee paying any outstanding debts to CalRecycle and returning a signed Grant Agreement within 60 days of award notification. Reporting is required annually during the grant term, and payment requests will have 10 percent retained until the final report is approved. Confidential or proprietary information in applications will be treated in accordance with state regulations, but most records are subject to public disclosure under the California Public Records Act.