The Municipal Sustainability Grants Program provides municipalities, schools and certain regional government entities with equipment, outreach materials, technical assistance and funding in support of waste reduction, water conservation, household hazardous waste and mercury diversion, and air quality initiatives at the local level.  Examples of grant items include:

• Public area recycling containers, home composting bins & rain barrels
• School chemical management & cleanout assistance
• Collection sheds for end-of-life mercury-added products
• Idling reduction campaign tool kit
• Diesel vehicle retrofit equipment & diesel hybrid truck subsidies
• Technical assistance & more

Only one application per community or regional group may be submitted. 

The program operates on a state fiscal year basis, with applications generally available in early July.  Grant information sessions are presented across the state later in the summer and applications are due in mid September.  MassDEP notifies grant recipients of their status in late fall and distributes awarded equipment between December and June.

To apply for a MassDEP Municipal Sustainability Grant, follow these steps: 

1. Review the Grant Application Guidance

Includes additional eligibility criteria, grant conditions, detailed descriptions of all grant items, and contact information for the specific MassDEP staff members responsible for each.
MS Word 2.5 MB | PDF 220 KB

2. Attend a Municipal Sustainability Grant Information Session

MassDEP has scheduled six information sessions this year. 
See Dates, Times & Locations

3. Verify That You Meet Minimum Eligibility Criteria

A. Applicants must have a 2007 Municipal Recycling & Diversion Data Sheet on file with MassDEP or submit one by the grant application deadline.  Questions?  Janine Delaney at 617-574-6859 or janine.delaney@state.ma.us

B. Applicants must have a Buy Recycled Policy on file with MassDEP.   
List of municipalities with required policies in place as of 7/1/2008:
MS Excel 25 KB | PDF 13 KB
Questions? Contact Regan Clover at 617-292-5707 or regan.clover@state.ma.us 

4. Submit a Grant Application

There are two filing options:

Apply Online.  Submit your application electronically via the eDEP online filing system.  Applications submitted online must be received by MassDEP no later than 11:59 p.m. on September 11, 2008.  For online filing assistance, contact Stefan Malner of MassDEP at 617-348-4004 or stefan.malner@state.ma.us

Register or Login:  

Apply by Mail.  Download your application from this page, then complete and mail it to MassDEP.  Applications submitted by mail must be received at MassDEP no later than 5:00 p.m. on September 11, 2008.  Applications postmarked but not received before this deadline or submitted via email or fax will NOT be accepted.  Mail your application to:

     Tina Klein, Grant Manager
     MassDEP Bureau of Waste Prevention
     One Winter Street, 6th Floor
     Boston, MA  02108

Download the Application: MS Word Form 2.7 MB | PDF Form 232 KB

Join MassDEP at one of the following two-hour sessions to learn more about the Municipal Sustainability Grants Program and how to apply.   

Thursday, July 10, 2008
10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon
City of Chicopee DPW
115 Baskin Road
Chicopee, Chicopee, MA

Tuesday, July 15, 2008
2:00-4:00 p.m.
Shrewsbury Town Hall
100 Maple Avenue
Shrewsbury, MA

Thursday, July 17, 2008
9:00-11:00 a.m.
Quincy City Hall, 2nd Floor
1305 Hancock Street
Quincy, MA

Tuesday, July 22, 2008
9:00-11:00 a.m.
Mansfield Town Hall
6 Park Row
Mansfield, MA

Tuesday, July 29, 2008
9:00-11:00 a.m.
MassDEP Southeast Regional Office
20 Riverside Drive
Lakeville, MA

Thursday, August 7, 2008
9:00-11:00 a.m.
MassDEP Northeast Regional Office
205B Lowell Street
Wilmington, MA

Although these information sessions will focus on new grant offerings for this year, MassDEP staff will be on hand to answer questions about any of the grant items.  An overview of eDEP online filing will also be presented.

Printer-friendly versions of this information: MS Word 222 KB | PDF 58 KB

Fiscal Year 2008 Municipal Sustainability Grant Awards, April 2008

MS Word 67 KB | PDF 40 KB

Fiscal Year 2008 Municipal Technical Assistance Grant Awards, November 2007

Web page | MS Excel 25 KB | PDF 12 KB

If you have questions about the Municipal Sustainability Grants Program or need assistance in preparing to apply, please contact  Regan Clover of MassDEP at 617-292-5707 or regan.clover@state.ma.us

MassDEP, other agencies of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs, and other organizations offer additional grant, loan and assistance programs that may be of interest to towns and cities as they move forward with other types of environmental initiatives. 

MassCleanDiesel School Bus Retrofit Program

Web page

MassDEP Water Conservation Grant Program

Web page

MassDEP Nonpoint Source Pollution Competitive Grants

Web Site

Commonwealth Solar Rebates

Patrick Administration & Massachusetts Technology Collaborative
Web site

Municipal Energy Audit Program

Massachusetts Division of Energy Resources
Contact Scott Durkee at 617-727-4732 or scott.durkee@state.ma.us

Small Renewables Grants

Massachusetts Technology Collaborative
Web site

Urban & Community Forestry Challenge Grants

Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation
Web site