Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) Grants for Tribes and Intertribal Consortia

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administers the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) Grants for Tribes and Intertribal Consortia to support sustainable waste management initiatives in Tribal communities. Funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and authorized under Section 302(a) of the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act, this competitive grant program aims to improve recycling infrastructure and foster circular economy practices. Administered through the EPA's Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery, the program supports projects that reduce waste, promote recycling and composting, and improve local solid waste infrastructure. Applicants must be federally recognized Indian Tribes or Intertribal Consortia, as defined under 33 U.S.C. 4201 and 25 U.S.C. 5304. Intertribal Consortia must demonstrate formal authorization from all member Tribes to apply for and manage the grant. Projects must align with at least one mandatory objective, such as developing post-consumer materials management plans, expanding materials management infrastructure, establishing recycling end-markets, or improving recycling rates and material quality. Projects may include equipment purchases, data collection, training, outreach, construction of facilities, and organics recovery. The EPA expects to award approximately 20 cooperative agreements with funding levels between $100,000 and $1,500,000. Awards will support project periods of up to three years, or up to five years for projects located in Alaska. No matching funds are required, and applicants are instructed not to include voluntary cost shares in their applications. Certain activities—such as landfill development, incineration, chemical or thermal recycling, or non-compost biofuels—are ineligible for funding. All proposed activities must comply with 2 CFR Part 200 and other EPA regulatory standards. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov, using the SF-424 and SF-424A forms, along with required EPA forms and a comprehensive Project Narrative Attachment Form. This form must include a summary cover letter, a narrative proposal addressing evaluation criteria, and a detailed budget narrative. Applications that fail to include all mandatory components will be deemed ineligible. Key evaluation factors include the clarity and feasibility of the proposed approach, environmental outcomes, capability of the applicant, and budget reasonableness. The current submission deadline is January 23, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET, extended from an original December deadline. Awards are anticipated to be announced by April 2026, with final award notices issued by September 2026. Questions may be directed to the EPA via [email protected]. Selected recipients will enter into cooperative agreements with active EPA involvement and must report regularly on progress, outcomes, and financial status.