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The Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) has opened the Empty Glass Beverage Transportation Grant Program to provide opportunities for the transportation of empty glass beverage containers to glass processing facilities utilizing rail transportation and facilities. Grants of up to $4,000,000 are available per project, with applications due by Thursday, March 26, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PST. Eligible applicants are current certified glass processers and must be either a local government or a private, for-profit entity. Funding will support the use of rail transportation of empty glass beverage containers to glass processing facilities Certified by CalRecycle within the state of California.

What is the Empty Glass Beverage Transportation Grant Program?

In order to encourage the use of rail transportation of empty glass beverage containers, CalRecycle has created the Empty Glass Beverage Transportation Grant Program. The fundamental goal of the Program is to facilitate transportation of empty glass beverage containers from throughout the State of California to glass processing facilities utilizing rail transportation. The Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) receives an annual and continuous appropriation of $1,000,000 from the Beverage Container Recycling Fund to administer the Empty Glass Beverage Transportation Grant Program (PRC section 14545). The amount available for this cycle is $4,000,000. This includes unspent funds from previous fiscal years.

What is the purpose of the grant?

The purpose of the Program is to facilitate transportation of empty glass beverage containers from throughout the State of California to glass processing facilities utilizing rail transportation.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants are:

• Current Certified Glass Processors

An organizational type that provides one of the services above include:

• Local governments (cities, counties, or cities and counties)
• Private, for-profit entities authorized to conduct business in the State of California

Applicants must have an Environmentally Preferable Purchasing and Practices (EPPP) Policy before submitting their application.

What project activities are eligible for grant funding?

Eligible project activities include:

• Projects that facilitate the use of rail transportation of empty glass beverage containers to glass processing facilities Certified by CalRecycle within the state of California.
• Projects must be located in California and transportation must come from California located businesses. Applicants will be required to identify the location and provide location documentation within the application. Applicants must provide a timeline and supporting documentation for obtaining permits in the form of a letter from the appropriate City, County, or State Agency (if applicable).
• The applicant must match the amount of any grant received from the grant program in an amount equal to or greater than the grant amount. Other funding received from CalRecycle is not eligible to be used as match for this grant program.

What are allowable costs?

Eligible costs are limited to the following:

• Equipment related to transportation of empty glass beverage containers through the use of rail. (e.g. loaders, bunkers, scales, emptying hoppers).
• Supplies and materials related to rail transportation of empty glass beverage containers.
• Transportation costs of empty glass beverage containers via rail.
• Construction of a new rail line or updating of an existing rail line to improve access to empty glass beverage container transportation (e.g. steel rails, wooden ties or sleepers, ballast, spikes, and bolts, and rail plates).
• Personnel directly related to project construction, empty glass beverage container rail transportation, and the implementation of equipment, materials and supplies.

Ineligible costs include, but are not limited to:

• Costs incurred before the Notice to Proceed email or after April 1, 2029.
• Partial payments or deposits for goods and services that have not been received or delivered.
• Vehicles/Trucks (could be used as match).
• Engineering (could be used as a match).
• Permits (could be used as match).
• Training.
• Transportation from a collection site to a rail processing facility.
• Travel accommodations (e.g. hotel stays for overnight travel) and general travel costs.
• Depreciation of State purchased equipment.
• Excessive maintenance costs for equipment unrelated to the activities of the grant.
• Indirect Costs.
• Overhead/Utilities related to daily operations.
• Legal services (including legal retainers).
• Property Taxes.
• Insurance.
• Purchasing equipment that was paid for using other CalRecycle grant funds.

What is the funding availability for this program?

• $4,000,000 available for fiscal year 2026-27.
• $1,000,000 continuously appropriated each fiscal year.
• Up to $4,000,000 is the maximum available per applicant for fiscal year 2026-27.
• $500,000 minimum requested amount per applicant for fiscal year 2026-27.
• The applicant must match awarded funds with an equal or greater amount.

The Grant Term begins on the date that CalRecycle sends the Notice to Proceed email.

The Grant Term ends on April 1, 2029.

What are the requirements to apply?

To be considered, applicants must submit a completed web-based application form through CalRecycle’s Grants Management System (GMS), a detailed budget including a minimum 100% match, a resolution/letter of commitment, and quotes.

What is the grant timeline?

Applications are open now. The deadline for applications is March 26, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PST.

For more information on this grant or how to apply with Morrison’s assistance, please contact the Morrison Grants Team by email at grants@morrisonco.net or call us at 530-893-4764.

The full Request for Proposals can be found here. 

Photo by Lacey Williams on Unsplash