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;
   • 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 Guidance

   The guidance 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, 749.07 KB, for SMRP Municipal Grant Application Guidance (PDF 749.07 KB)

3. Learn More About SMRP Grants

   MassDEP hosted two Sustainable Materials Recovery Program (SMRP) Grant webinars in April 2018. The first focused on opportunities for communities with drop-off programs, and the second on opportunities for municipalities with curbside collection. If you were unable to participate, presentations and Q&As from each session are available below.

   Open PDF file, 559.21 KB, for Webinar Presentation and Q&A for Curbside Communities (PDF 559.21 KB)

   Open PDF file, 519.49 KB, for Webinar Presentation and Q&A for Drop-Off Communities (PDF 519.49 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 2016 and 2017 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 Janine Bishop.
   • 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 2018 SMRP application cycle has concluded. 
   • Please note that MassDEP has established a Re-TRAC Connect™ account for each municipality. If you have forgotten your account login, contact Janine Bishop.
   • 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 Guidance 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 Guidance. 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, 270.97 KB, for Waste Reduction & Organics Capacity Projects: Mandatory Proposal Outline (PDF 270.97 KB)

   Open PDF file, 749.07 KB, for SMRP Municipal Grant Application Guidance (PDF 749.07 KB)

   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, 6.71 MB, for Reference Copy of SMRP Municipal Grant Application (PDF 6.71 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.