Beverage Container Recycling Grant Program (Fiscal Years 2026-27 and 2027-28)
🏛 Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (California)
✓ Free, no account · Source: California Grants Portal · Last verified Jul 10, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for California organizations seeking to expand beverage container recycling. Eligible applicants include public and nonprofit colleges/universities, K-12 school districts, local jurisdictions, tribal entities, and nonprofits operating multi-family housing or community programs. Projects must focus on convenient recycling opportunities—like curbside programs, collection events, drop-off centers, water refill stations, or border litter cleanup—with direct connection to California Redemption Value beverages.
Education and outreach may comprise up to 25% of the grant. Projects mixing non-CRV materials (like composting) are funded only for their CRV-related portion. Tribal entities and US-Mexico border litter projects receive priority consideration.
Geographic scope is statewide California. Out-of-state beverage containers collected in border cleanup cannot be funded.
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Program description
CalRecycle is seeking projects that implement new programs or enhance existing programs to provide convenient beverage container recycling opportunities in various locations statewide. Eligible projects include: • Multi-family residential dwellings (five units or more). • Public colleges/universities, non-profit colleges/universities, and public K-12 school districts. • Curbside Residential Program locations (excluding single stream). • Community events including, but not limited to, those sponsored by local jurisdictions. • Parks/recreational areas. • Purchase of water refill stations, including the installation, education and outreach, or replacement of infrastructure, plumbing, maintenance, additional attachments or modifications. • Purchase of mobile water trailer bars, including replacement of filters, maintenance, additional attachments or modifications, reusable cups utilized for the water trailer bars, and related educational and outreach activities/materials as eligible expenditures. • Litter reduction and clean-up along the United States-Mexico border where the waste stream includes beverage containers that will be recycled. o Out of State beverage containers collected as part of the litter abatement and clean-up projects cannot be funded under this grant program. Ongoing collection programs may include the following activities as a component of the grant project: • Temporary Community events (i.e., recycling or collection events sponsored by local jurisdictions, Earth Day events). • Drop-off, Collection Program, or Community Service Program. • Education and Outreach related to beverage container recycling. Note: Education activities and/or materials (signage, flyers, curriculum, etc.) related to the beverage container recycling project are capped at 25 percent of the total grant award. • Funding must have a direct connection to the California Redemption Value (CRV) of beverage containers and the overall program. If non-CRV items are included in the grant, they are subject to proportional cost. For example: a three-bin system with composting, paper and CRV recycling, can only be funded at one third of the cost. A mixed recycling bin will be funded proportionately based on the CRV content of materials collected. Priority funding will be given to Tribal Entities and applicants with litter abatement projects along the United States-Mexico border. Applicants who meet the criteria will be given priority and will be considered for funding first.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- City / Municipal Government
- Colleges (all higher ed)
- County Government
- Individuals
- Nonprofits
- Public Authority
- Public K-12 School
- Tribal Nation
- Tribal Organization
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Project narrative/description
- Budget and budget justification
- Project timeline
- Proof of organizational eligibility and status
- Letters of support from partner agencies or community stakeholders
- Detailed education and outreach plan (if applicable)
Program contact
- 📧 grantassistance@calrecycle.ca.gov
- 📞 1-916-341-6095
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Public/nonprofit colleges, K-12 districts, local jurisdictions, tribal entities, and nonprofits managing multi-family housing or community recycling programs. Faith-based organizations managing qualifying programs may also apply.
What types of projects are eligible?
Curbside programs, collection events, drop-off centers, water refill stations, mobile water trailers, and US-Mexico border litter cleanup with beverage container recycling. Education and outreach can be 25% of the award maximum.
When is the deadline?
Deadline not specified; likely rolling acceptance. Check CalRecycle website for current funding cycle windows.
How much funding is available?
Individual awards range from $75,000 to $275,000. Total program funding is $1.5 million statewide.
Is cost-sharing required?
No cost-sharing match required. However, if your project includes non-CRV items, only the CRV-related portion is funded.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Clearly show the direct link between your project and California Redemption Value beverages. Mixed-material systems must show proportional CRV funding separately.
- Cap education/outreach at 25% of your total budget. Detailed signage, curriculum, and marketing plans strengthen applications.
- Tribal entities and border litter projects get priority funding. Emphasize community impact if your project serves these populations.
- Include specific metrics: number of residents served, tons of containers collected annually, or event attendance. Vague goals reduce competitiveness.
- Budget infrastructure carefully. Water refill stations and trailers need operation/maintenance costs built in, not just purchase and installation.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Failing to clearly link project activities to California Redemption Value beverages. Requesting 100% funding for mixed-material systems (composting bins, mixed recycling) without proportional CRV allocation. Exceeding 25% education/outreach cap or submitting unclear education plans.
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