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

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, through its Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery, has announced the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) Grants for Tribes and Intertribal Consortia under Funding Opportunity Number EPA-I-OLEM-ORCR-25-02. This initiative is supported by the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act and funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The program aims to build and transform solid waste infrastructure in Tribal communities, supporting environmentally sound waste management, reducing waste, and advancing circular economy principles. It emphasizes systems-based approaches that extend resource use, minimize landfill dependence, and encourage local recycling, reuse, composting, and materials recovery. The total estimated funding available under this competition is approximately twenty million dollars, with about twenty awards anticipated. Individual award amounts range from one hundred thousand dollars to one million five hundred thousand dollars, with projects generally lasting up to three years, though projects in Alaska may extend up to five years. At least one award is expected per EPA region, contingent on application quality. Eligible projects include developing or updating waste management plans, expanding recycling and composting infrastructure, improving collection and storage, establishing end markets for recycled materials, and increasing diversion rates. Ineligible activities include landfill operations, incineration, most waste-to-energy methods, chemical or thermal recycling, and environmental cleanups. Applicants must be federally recognized Indian Tribes or intertribal consortia that demonstrate member authorization and eligibility. Threshold requirements include addressing at least one mandatory objective, requesting federal funds between one hundred thousand and one million five hundred thousand dollars, and ensuring no duplication of activities already federally funded. No cost sharing or matching is required or accepted under this opportunity. Applications must be complete, comply with format and page limits, and include required components such as the SF-424, SF-424A, EPA Key Contacts Form, Preaward Compliance Review Report, and a detailed Project Narrative Attachment Form with cover letter, narrative proposal, and budget details. Applications are due through Grants.gov by December 12, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. EPA anticipates notifying selected applicants in April 2026, with awards expected in September 2026. Evaluation will be based on five weighted criteria: project summary and approach, impactful solutions, measurement of environmental results, programmatic capability and past performance, and budget and expenditure of funds. Final selections will also consider geographic diversity, scope, programmatic priorities, project readiness, and past expenditure performance. Post-award requirements include compliance with federal administrative policies, quarterly progress reports, annual federal financial reports, and a final technical report within 120 days of the project’s completion. Reporting will track outputs such as tons of materials recycled or composted, number of jobs created, and percentage of tribal populations served. Projects may also be subject to Build America, Buy America requirements, Davis-Bacon prevailing wage rules, and National Environmental Protection Act reviews. Awardees must submit all documents and financial information through EPA’s Grants Management System. For further information, technical questions may be directed to EPA’s SWIFR Tribal program contacts, Chris Carusiello and Jamie Lutz, at SWIFRTribal@epa.gov. This competition is designed to provide Tribes and intertribal consortia with resources to expand recycling access, reduce landfill reliance, and strengthen waste management infrastructure to build healthier, more resilient communities.