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CalRecycle opened the application period for the Recycled Fiber, Plastic and Glass Grant Program (FPG program) with applications due January 14, 2021. Funding levels range from $250,000 to $3 million through the program as detailed below.

The purpose of this competitive grant program is to lower overall greenhouse gas emissions through the expansion of existing capacity or establishment of new facilities in California that use California-generated postconsumer recycled fiber (paper, old corrugated cardboard, paper board, wood, or textiles), plastic, or glass to manufacture products.

Who is eligible to apply for this program? Eligible applicants include: local governments; private, for-profit entities, state agencies; The University of California, California State University campuses, or California Community Colleges; Nonprofit organizations (except private schools) registered with the federal government under 501(c)3, (c)4, (c)6 or (c)10 of the Internal Revenue Code; and qualifying Indian Tribes.

What are the project requirements? Projects must be located in California and result in permanent, annual, and measurable:

1. Reductions in Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions by producing an intermediate commodity and/or manufacturing a finished product with California-generated fiber, plastic, or glass compared to the existing practice of landfilling; and
2. Increases in quantity (tons) of California-generated fiber, plastic, or glass diverted from landfill disposal.

What projects are eligible for the FPG program? Eligible projects/products include:

• Construction, renovation or expansion of facilities to increase in-state infrastructure to manufacture a finished product using California derived recycled fiber (paper, old corrugated cardboard, paper board, wood, or textiles), plastic, or glass.
  • The project must result in an increase in tons of material diverted from landfills.
  • Applicant/Grantee must provide an agreement/contract with a California entity (e.g. Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) that will supply the feedstock.
  • Wood projects are only eligible if producing a finished engineered wood product intended for use in construction, including but not limited to plywood, medium-density fiberboard (MDF), particle board, or mass timber products.
• Construction, renovation, or expansion of facilities to increase in-state infrastructure for production of a fiber, plastic or glass intermediate commodity that will be supplied to a manufacturing facility for the production of a finished product.
  • The project must result in an increase in tons of material diverted from landfills.
  • Applicant/Grantee must provide an agreement/contract with a California entity (e.g. MRF) that will supply the feedstock, which will be converted to an intermediate commodity.
  • If the manufacturing facility that will receive the materials from the grant applicant also submits an application, applicants must demonstrate how each project will result in discrete increases in tons of material diverted from landfills and reductions in GHG emissions.
• Expansion of projects that have previously received GHG reduction funds are eligible provided the project meets the grant criteria and the previously funded project is progressing in a manner satisfactory to CalRecycle.

What are the funding levels? A total of $10,460,830 is available for this grant cycle, fiscal year 2019-2020. Funding levels are separated into large and small project tiers (tiers refer to the award amounts not the size of the project): 

• Large Project Tier: $9,460,830 allocation for large tier projects with a minimum grant award of $250,001 and a maximum grant award of $3,000,000 per application.
• Small Project Tier: $1,000,000 allocation for small tier projects with a minimum grant award of $125,000 and a maximum grant award of $250,000 per application.

Is there a cost sharing requirement? CalRecycle does not specify a cost sharing requirement in their Application Guidelines and Instructions.

What is the grant duration? Grant awards will likely be made in April 2020 with the grant term ending on April 3, 2023.

The full Application Guidelines and Instructions can be found here.

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.