Empty Glass Beverage Transportation Grant Program, FY 2026-27
🏛 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 organizations working on open space, habitat restoration, and watershed protection in the San Gabriel and Los Angeles River regions.
Public agencies, nonprofits, and interagency partners can apply. Projects must serve the RMC's jurisdiction, which spans from the San Gabriel Mountains to the California coast, including urban and natural areas.
Eligible activities include creating open space, restoring habitat, expanding green space in disadvantaged communities, improving water quality, flood control, wildfire resilience, and green workforce development. Community engagement throughout the project is required.
Multi-benefit projects that address multiple regional needs and leverage multiple funding sources are strongly encouraged.
⚖️ Cost sharing / matching required — applicants must contribute their own funds.
Not the right fit? Find grants for your organization in 5 questions →
Program description
The Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) receives an annual and continuous appropriation of $1,000,000 from the Beverage Container Recycling Fund to administer the Empty Glass Beverage Transportation Grant Program (PRC section 14545). All projects must be located within California and transportation must come from California located businesses. Eligible projects include: • Projects that facilitate the use of rail transportation of empty glass beverage containers to glass processing facilities Certified by CalRecycle within the state of California. Eligible costs and activities may include: • Equipment related to transportation of empty glass beverage containers through the use of rail. (e.g. loaders, bunkers, scales, emptying hoppers) • Supplies and materials related to rail transportation of empty glass beverage containers. • Transportation costs of empty glass beverage containers via rail. • Construction of a new rail line or updating of an existing rail line to improve access to empty glass beverage container transportation. (i.e. steel rails, wooden ties or sleepers, ballast, spikes, bolts, and rail plates) • Personnel directly related to project construction, empty glass beverage container rail transportation, and the implementation of equipment, materials and supplies.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- Conservation Organization
- Individuals
- Nonprofits
- Public Authority
- Small Business (SBA-defined)
- Tribal Nation
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Project narrative and description
- Budget and budget justification
- Community engagement plan
- Letters of support from partners and community stakeholders
- Proof of organizational capacity and experience
Program contact
- 📧 BevContainerGrants@calrecycle.ca.gov
- 📞 1-916-319-7577
Funding track record
Past applications & awards under this program (California Grants Portal) — how competitive it is.
By fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Applications | Awarded | Award rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-2026 | 13 | 8 | 62% |
Source: California Grants Portal
FAQ
Who can apply for RMC grants?
Public agencies, nonprofits, and interagency partners can apply. You must be working within RMC's jurisdiction in Southern California.
What geographic area does RMC serve?
RMC serves the San Gabriel and Los Angeles River watersheds, from the mountains to the coast, including coastal, wetland, forest, and urban areas.
What types of projects are funded?
Open space creation, habitat restoration, green space in disadvantaged communities, water quality improvements, flood control, wildfire resilience, and green workforce development.
Is community engagement required?
Yes. Robust community engagement throughout the project life cycle is required and promoted by RMC.
What is the funding range?
Awards typically range from $50,000 to $2,000,000. Total available funding is approximately $30.9 million.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Prioritize multi-benefit projects that address multiple RMC priorities like water quality, flood control, and wildfire resilience together.
- Build robust community engagement into your project plan from the start. RMC values local input and support.
- Demonstrate how your project serves disadvantaged communities and increases equitable access to open space.
- Leverage multiple funding sources to strengthen project goals and show cost-effectiveness.
- Reference RMC's watershed plan (Common Ground, from the Mountains to the Sea) to align your project with regional priorities.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications fail when they lack strong community engagement plans or don't address multiple RMC priorities. Projects that don't clearly serve RMC's jurisdiction or disadvantaged communities are less competitive. Weak demonstration of how the project leverages additional funding sources reduces competitiveness.
Similar grants
- ROLLING Proposition 1 Regionwide Grants — San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy (California)
- ROLLING Beverage Container Recycling Grant Program (Fiscal Years 2026-27 and 2027-28) — Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (California)
- ROLLING Proposition 1 Lower Los Angeles River Grants — San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy (California)
- ROLLING Proposition 68 – Water Recycling — State Water Resources Control Board (California)
- ROLLING Proposition 4 – Wildfire and Forest Resilience — San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy (California)