Illegal Disposal Site Abatement Grant Program

The Illegal Disposal Site Abatement Grant Program is administered by the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, known as CalRecycle. The program addresses widespread illegal dumping of solid waste that can reduce property values, create public health and safety and environmental problems, and negatively affect communities. It is intended to provide financial assistance to public entities so they can accelerate cleanup, restore affected sites, and address properties where unauthorized dumping has created significant problems. The fiscal year 2026-27 funding notice provides a total of 1000000 in available funding, with reimbursement grants of up to 500000 per grant award. Eligible projects are solid waste cleanup projects within the applicant's jurisdiction where cleanup is needed to protect public health and safety or the environment. The program applies to solid waste sites and solid waste at codisposal sites where the responsible party cannot be identified or is unwilling or unable to pay for timely remediation. Eligible costs include waste removal and disposal, health and safety measures required for eligible project work, and certain security and prevention measures intended to prevent recurring illegal dumping at remediated sites. Eligible health and safety related costs may include contractors, public agency labor, rental equipment, preparation of designs, and consultant services directly associated with an eligible cost item. Security and prevention measures may include fences, barriers, warning signs, public information materials, and other measures. Prevention measures and associated staff time are limited to no more than 25 percent of the overall grant amount. Eligible applicants are California public entities, specifically counties, cities, districts, state agencies, and Joint Powers Authorities. California Labor Code section 1782 imposes an additional condition affecting charter cities. If an applicant or participating jurisdiction is a charter city, or a Joint Powers Authority includes charter cities, the lead participating jurisdiction must certify that Labor Code section 1782 does not prohibit any included charter city from receiving state funds for the proposed project. The provided materials do not identify a required applicant cost share or matching contribution. Applications must be submitted electronically through CalRecycle's Grants Management System. For Cycle 108, applications became available on August 12, 2026 and are due September 16, 2026. Questions regarding the application and its requirements must be submitted in writing by email by the applicable question deadline, and applicants are responsible for checking the program question and answer page for updates. Customer service on the application due date is available only until 4:00 p.m. Applicants that cannot access the Grants Management System or require assistance may contact Grant.Assistance@calrecycle.ca.gov. Required authorization documents create a secondary post-application deadline. For Cycle 108, an approved resolution or other required authorization documents must be uploaded in the Grants Management System by October 14, 2026 if they were not submitted with the application. An applicant without an Environmentally Preferable Purchasing and Practices Policy at the time of application must adopt one by that same date. CalRecycle tentatively expects to consider funding recommendations and conditionally award Cycle 108 grants in December 2026. Submission of an application also acknowledges that the applicant has read the applicable Terms and Conditions and understands and agrees that they will become part of the Grant Agreement if funding is awarded. A second fiscal year 2026-27 cycle is scheduled only if funds remain available and have not been exhausted. Cycle 110 is scheduled to open January 13, 2027, with questions due February 10, 2027, applications due March 17, 2027, required authorization documents and any required Environmentally Preferable Purchasing and Practices Policy due in April 2027, and tentative grant awards in April 2027. The grant term runs from the Notice to Proceed through June 30, 2029. The final report and final payment request are also due June 30, 2029. The program homepage additionally shows grant cycles in multiple prior fiscal years, supporting treatment of the funding opportunity as a recurring program, although the second cycle for fiscal year 2026-27 remains contingent on the availability of funds.

Submit through GMS by the applicable deadline; monitor the Q&A page regularly because applicants are responsible for staying aware of program details; submit questions in writing by the Q&A deadline; confirm California Labor Code section 1782 compliance when charter cities are involved; plan for required authorization documents and EPPP Policy by the secondary deadline