Multifamily Recycling Grant

The Multifamily Recycling Grant Program is administered by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality through its Division of Environmental Assistance and Customer Service. The program is designed to support the development, expansion, and improvement of recycling systems serving multifamily residential properties across North Carolina. These properties are generally defined as housing structures with five or more dwelling units, including apartments, condominiums, retirement communities, and off campus student housing. The initiative reflects a broader state effort to increase recycling access and divert recyclable materials from waste streams, particularly in communities where recycling infrastructure is limited or underutilized. The primary objective of the grant is to create new access to recycling or increase the volume of materials recovered from multifamily residences. Eligible projects must focus on collecting traditional household recyclables such as paper, cardboard, metal cans, glass containers, and plastic bottles and containers. Projects that only provide education without expanding access are not eligible. The program prioritizes proposals that demonstrate measurable impact in terms of increased recycling participation, improved infrastructure, and long term sustainability of services beyond the grant period. Funding can be used for a range of capital and programmatic expenses necessary to establish or expand recycling services. These include the purchase of equipment such as carts, dumpsters, collection vehicles, recycling corrals, and concrete pads, as well as costs associated with educational outreach and temporary staffing required to implement the program. However, grant funds may not be used for ongoing operational costs such as routine collection fees or administrative overhead. All funded projects must include a robust education component that ensures residents understand how to participate and what materials are accepted. Eligibility for the program is broad and includes local governments, recycling businesses, nonprofit organizations, multifamily property owners or management companies, public housing authorities, and colleges or universities serving off campus housing. Applicants must submit a detailed proposal outlining their project design, expected outcomes, budget, and timeline. Proposals must also include documentation such as a letter of support from a recycling facility or hauler, a project budget with matching funds where required, and a plan for collecting and reporting recycling data. Additional financial documentation is required for nonprofit and business applicants. The application process is conducted on a rolling basis, with proposals accepted as long as funding remains available. Applications must be submitted electronically via email in either Word or PDF format. Once submitted, applicants receive confirmation and may be contacted for clarification or revisions. Successful applicants enter into a grant contract with the state, with a project period of one or two years. Funds are distributed on a reimbursement basis, requiring grantees to incur costs upfront and submit documentation for repayment. Evaluation of proposals is conducted by a selection committee using a structured scoring system. Criteria include demonstration of need, quality of planning, effectiveness of educational strategies, expected waste reduction impact, and the long term efficiency and sustainability of the project. Projects that clearly demonstrate strong planning, measurable outcomes, and alignment with best practices in recycling are more likely to be funded. The competitive nature of the program emphasizes the importance of thorough and well supported proposals. Applicants are encouraged to contact program staff for guidance prior to submission. The primary contact for the program is Elise Traywick, who can provide assistance with project development and application requirements. Once awarded, grantees must comply with reporting requirements, including submission of a final report and ongoing tracking of recycling data. The program operates continuously based on funding availability and does not follow a fixed annual cycle, making it an ongoing opportunity for eligible entities to expand recycling access in North Carolina.

Ensure strong planning and clear measurable outcomes; include robust education strategy; demonstrate long term sustainability; follow required proposal format strictly