Apply for a Sustainable Materials Recovery Program (SMRP) Municipal Grant

Next steps for Apply for a Sustainable Materials Recovery Program (SMRP) Municipal Grant

1. What to Know

   MassDEP Sustainable Materials Recovery Program (SMRP) Municipal Grant funding may be used to improve local recycling, composting, reuse, and household hazardous waste diversion programs.

   Cities, towns, regional authorities, and certain non-profit organizations that provide solid waste-related services to them are eligible to apply.

   Grants are available for:

   • Recycling and composting equipment;
   • Mattress recycling;
   • Pay-As-You-Throw programs;
   • Education & Enforcement Coordinators;
   • School recycling;
   • Waste reduction enforcement; and
   • Organics capacity development.

   SMRP funding is also available for SMRP Recycling Dividends Program (RDP) payments to qualifying cities and towns.

2. Review the Application Guidelines

   The document below provides critical information on SMRP Municipal Grants including eligibility criteria, terms and conditions, and how grant funds may be used.

   Open PDF file, 4.22 MB, for SMRP Municipal Grant Application Guidelines (PDF 4.22 MB)

3. Learn More About SMRP Grants

   MassDEP hosted a webinar and two workshops in spring 2019 for communities with interest in applying for Sustainable Materials Recovery Program (SMRP) Municipal Grants. If your municipality was unable to participate, see from the presentation from these sessions below.

   Open PDF file, 7.27 MB, for SMRP Grant Webinar/Workshop Presentation, April 2019 (PDF 7.27 MB)

   Open PDF file, 225.72 KB, for Details on 2019 SMRP Webinar & Workshops (PDF 225.72 KB)

4. Meet Minimum Eligibility Criteria

   • Applicants must certify that they have "buy recycled" by-laws, ordinances or policies in place; indicate whether their purchasing function is centralized or decentralized; certify that everyone with purchasing authority is aware of the "buy recycled" requirement and reminded of it annually; and attach a copy of this communication. See below for examples of qualifying "buy recycled" policy notifications.
   • Before submitting a grant application, municipal applicants must have completed MassDEP Municipal Recycling & Solid Waste Surveys for calendar years 2017 and 2018 at Re-TRAC Connect™. Regional and non-profit applicants must certify that each municipality to be served by the grant proposal has filed these documents.
   • Please note that MassDEP has established a Re-TRAC Connect™ account for each municipality. If you have forgotten your account login, contact Rachel Smith.
   • Municipal applicants with unspent Recycling Dividends Program (RDP) funds or who were awarded in the previous calendar year must report prior year expenditures and RDP Funds balances via Re-TRAC Connect™.
   • Municipal applicants must certify that they have active recycling programs that provide recycling containers for paper, cans and bottles in all offices and meeting spaces in all municipal buildings. All other applicants are required to certify that they have active programs providing for office recycling of paper, cans and bottles.

   Open PDF file, 26.58 KB, for Chelmsford "Buy Recycled" Notification (PDF 26.58 KB)

   Open PDF file, 55.92 KB, for Haverhill "Buy Recycled" Notification (PDF 55.92 KB)

   Open PDF file, 478.08 KB, for Hingham "Buy Recycled" Notification (PDF 478.08 KB)

   Open PDF file, 64.28 KB, for Reading "Buy Recycled" Notification (PDF 64.28 KB)

5. Complete & Submit a Grant Application

   • The 2019 SMRP application cycle has concluded. MassDEP will next begin accepting applications in April 2020.
   • Please note that MassDEP has established a Re-TRAC Connect™ account for each municipality. If you have forgotten your account login, contact Rachel Smith.
   • Applications must be submitted electronically via Re-TRAC Connect™, an online reporting tool. MassDEP does not accept applications in any other format.
   • Regional authority and non-profit applicants need to discuss project concepts with Brooke Nash no later than two weeks before the grant application deadline.
   • If you are requesting funds for Waste Reduction or Organics Capacity projects, the Re-TRAC Connect™ system will prompt you to attach a written proposal, which must conform to the Mandatory Proposal Outline below. MassDEP strongly encourages applicants to contact Brooke Nash before developing their proposals, to discuss project concepts.
   • If you are requesting School Recycling Assistance, you will need to submit a letter of commitment, further described in the SMRP Guidelines below. Use the Commitment Letter Template below for help in composing the letter.
   • If awarded a grant, your School Committee or District must pass a mandatory School Recycling Policy, further described in the SMRP Guidelines. See the Sample Recycling Policy Template below. An applicant whose policy has been adopted at the time of grant application submittal will be favorably evaluated.
   • A Reference Copy of the SMRP Municipal Grant Application is also provided below. This is for reference only. Do not attempt to submit this version of the application in any format. MassDEP does NOT accept applications submitted by mail, fax, or email attachment. Applications must be submitted via Re-TRAC Connect™.

   Open DOC file, 179.5 KB, for Waste Reduction & Organics Capacity Projects: Mandatory Proposal Outline (DOC 179.5 KB)

   Open PDF file, 267.74 KB, for Waste Reduction & Organics Capacity Projects: Mandatory Proposal Outline (PDF 267.74 KB)

   Open PDF file, 4.22 MB, for SMRP Municipal Grant Application Guidelines (PDF 4.22 MB)

   Open PDF file, 140.45 KB, for School Recycling Assistance: Commitment Letter Template (PDF 140.45 KB)

   Open PDF file, 131.45 KB, for School Recycling Assistance: Sample Recycling Policy Template (PDF 131.45 KB)

   Open PDF file, 6.01 MB, for Reference Copy of SMRP Municipal Grant Application (PDF 6.01 MB)

6. MassDEP Reviews All Applications

   The agency spends most of the summer reviewing and scoring the applications it has received from cities, towns, regional authorities and eligible non-profits. MassDEP concludes this process and announces two rounds of grant awards in the fall, generally in September and November.