Applications Now Open for Solid Waste Minimization Projects
Applications Open Until September 30
ETCOG’s Solid Waste program is now accepting applications for its annual Municipal Solid Waste grant funds. Approximately $151,223 is estimated to be allocated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to regional solid waste minimization efforts in East Texas. Local governments and special districts may apply for funds by submitting an application to ETCOG by 4:00 p.m. on September 30, 2020. Applicants must be in the ETCOG 14-county service area, which includes Anderson, Camp, Cherokee, Gregg, Harrison, Henderson, Marion, Panola, Rains, Rusk, Smith, Upshur, Van Zandt, and Wood counties.
Grant funding requests must be in support of the goals and objectives of the ETCOG Regional Solid Waste Management Plan. The purpose of the plan is to provide guidelines for current and future solid waste management to local governments in the region.
Eligible applicants include public schools and school districts (excluding universities and other post-secondary educational institutions), cities, counties, general and special law districts (created under state law with the authority and responsibility for water quality protection or municipal solid waste management, to include river authorities).
Any projects proposed for funding under the FY 2021 program must first ensure that the implementation of that program will not place an existing private solid waste business at a competitive disadvantage.
Eligible project categories are
- Local Enforcement- This category consists of projects which contribute to the prevention of illegal dumping. These projects may include programs to investigate illegal dumping problems, educate the public on illegal dumping laws, and prosecute violators. These programs may also include activities such as monitoring collection and transport through a manifest system to enforce laws pertaining to the illegal disposal of liquid wastes.
- Litter and Illegal Dumping Clean up and Community Collection Events
- Source Reduction and Recycling
- Local Solid Waste Management Plans
- Citizen’s Collection Stations and “Small” Registered Transfer Stations
- Household Hazardous Waste Management
- Technical Studies
- Educational and Training Projects- Educational components are encouraged under the other categories in order to better ensure public participation in projects; those educational components should be funded as part of those projects and not separately under this category. This category may include “stand-alone” educational projects dealing with a variety of solid waste management topics.
The Request for Applications (RFA) and FY 2021 application forms are available online on our Solid Waste Grants page. You may also request the documents by contacting Lisa Smith at (903) 218-6467 or by email at lisa.smith@etcog.org. The deadline for application submittal is Wednesday, September 30, 2020, by 4:00 PM (CST).







