Tire-Derived Aggregate Grant

The Tire-Derived Aggregate (TDA) Grant Program, administered by CalRecycle, is part of California's broader effort to promote sustainable waste management practices, particularly focusing on the reuse of waste tires. This initiative supports projects that make use of tire-derived aggregate, a lightweight, free-draining, and cost-effective material created by shredding waste tires. TDA is increasingly adopted as an alternative to conventional aggregate in civil engineering applications due to its environmental and economic advantages. CalRecycle, the funding source, is a department within the California Environmental Protection Agency and is responsible for promoting waste reduction, recycling, and reuse programs. The TDA Grant Program's primary objective is to divert waste tires from landfills and reduce illegal tire dumping by encouraging their use in civil engineering projects. Eligible projects are categorized into five application types: mechanically stabilized TDA for retaining walls; stormwater mitigation through low-impact development such as infiltration galleries; slope stabilization, embankment fill, and landslide repair; vibration mitigation under rail lines; and landfill infrastructure improvements excluding alternative daily cover use. The grant provides up to $375,000 per project for direct costs associated specifically with the TDA component of the construction. This includes TDA material and tax, transportation to a stockpile or site (excluding contractor markup), installation, related engineering or design work, and geosynthetic materials used in conjunction with the TDA. Applicants must be mindful that projects already completed or underway at the same facility within three years of the application date are ineligible. Likewise, certain landfill uses—specifically as alternative daily or intermediate cover—do not qualify. The grant does not fund broader project costs unrelated to the use of TDA. Applications are submitted online through CalRecycle’s Grants Management System (GMS), and prospective applicants are encouraged to monitor the CalRecycle funding webpage or the California Grants Portal for notices of funding availability (NOFA). The current application cycle, TDA27, is open, with submissions due by January 13, 2026. At this time, no additional upcoming cycles have been announced. The grant does not currently require a pre-application such as a letter of intent. Previous cycles include TDA23 through TDA26, with some cycles not resulting in awards, indicating a competitive selection process or evolving program scope. Awards are generally published on the CalRecycle website for transparency and benchmarking. Interested parties should direct questions and requests for more information to the program's email address: TireGrants@calrecycle.ca.gov. While the notice does not specify the evaluation criteria or performance period, projects are expected to demonstrate clear use of TDA in qualifying civil engineering applications. The program appears to recur annually, and based on the current due date, the next anticipated cycle is projected to open in January 2027, with applicants advised to check back in September 2026 for updates.

Ensure project location is not the same as any previously funded TDA project within the past three years; landfill uses must align with eligible categories.