Tire-Derived Aggregate Grant

The Tire-Derived Aggregate (TDA) Grant Program is administered by CalRecycle, the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery. CalRecycle is the state agency responsible for reducing waste, promoting recycling, and encouraging sustainable practices across California. The TDA Grant Program aims to promote the use of tire-derived aggregate materials in civil engineering applications, thereby supporting the diversion of waste tires from landfills, mitigating illegal tire dumping, and enhancing the market for recycled tire products. TDA is produced from shredded waste tires and offers an alternative to traditional lightweight aggregate materials. It is characterized by its lightweight nature, cost-effectiveness, and excellent drainage properties. CalRecycle’s program seeks to support projects that incorporate TDA into engineering solutions, thus providing an environmentally sound application for a significant waste stream while also promoting sustainable infrastructure development. The eligible project types under the program are divided into five categories. Category 1 includes the use of mechanically stabilized TDA for retaining walls. Category 2 supports stormwater mitigation and low impact development systems, such as infiltration galleries. Category 3 includes projects for slope stabilization, embankment fill, landslide repair, and retaining walls using lightweight TDA fill. Category 4 covers vibration mitigation under rail lines, and Category 5 supports landfill applications that use TDA in systems such as leachate or gas collection, but not for daily or intermediate landfill cover. Projects currently underway or completed at the same facility within the past three years are ineligible, and landfill uses of TDA must not include daily or intermediate cover to qualify. Grant funding is capped at a maximum of $375,000 per award and may be used only for eligible direct costs. These include TDA material purchase (including taxes), transportation of the material to either a project site or initial stockpile location (excluding contractor markups and secondary transportation), installation costs, associated engineering and design work, and specific geosynthetic materials required for the TDA application. Only the costs related directly to the TDA portion of the project will be reimbursed. The program’s current grant cycle, Cycle TDA26, closes on October 16, 2025. The next grant cycle, TDA27, opens on October 17, 2025, demonstrating the recurring nature of this funding opportunity. Applications must be submitted online via CalRecycle’s Grants Management System (GMS). Interested applicants should monitor the CalRecycle Funding page or the California Grants Portal for the Notice of Funds Available (NOFA). Awardees from previous cycles are also listed publicly, with information about awarded and non-awarded rounds across fiscal years. Eligible applicants include entities proposing civil engineering projects that meet one of the five supported categories, and all projects must be located in California. The primary point of contact for inquiries regarding the TDA Grant Program is via email at tiregrants@calrecycle.ca.gov. Applicants are encouraged to reach out with questions about project eligibility, documentation, or the application process to ensure successful submission.