Solid Waste Management Grant Program
🏛 Rural Utilities Service
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Oct 7, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for organizations providing technical assistance and training in solid waste management and landfill operations across rural areas.
Eligible applicants include nonprofits with IRS 501(c)(3) status, public bodies, federally acknowledged or state-recognized Native American tribes, and academic institutions. Applicants must be legally established and incorporated by December 31 of the application year. Private businesses, federal agencies, and individuals are ineligible.
Organizations must demonstrate proven ability and regional capacity to deliver technical assistance and training. This includes having staff resources or contracted expertise available to serve rural associations on a regional basis.
Activities funded include waste reduction training, landfill operator skills development, closure planning assistance, and water resource threat assessments. Construction, facility operations, and vehicle purchases are not eligible.
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Program description
Funds may be used to:
(a) Provide technical assistance and/or training to reduce the solid waste stream through reduction, recycling, and reuse.
(b) Provide training to enhance operator skills in maintaining and operating active landfills.
(c) Provide technical assistance and/or training for operators of landfills which are closed or will be closed in the near future with the development/implementation of closure plans, future land use plans, safety and maintenance planning, and closure scheduling within permit requirements.
(d) Evaluate current landfill conditions to determine the threats to water resources.
(e) Pay the expenses associated with providing the technical assistance and/or training authorized in paragraphs (a) through (d) of this section.
Grant funds may not be used to:
(a) Duplicate current services or replace or substitute support normally provided by other means, such as those performed by an association’s consultant in developing a project, including feasibility, design, and cost estimates.
(b) Fund political or lobbying activities.
(c) Purchase real estate or vehicles, improve or renovate office space, or repair and maintain privately owned property.
(d) Pay the costs for construction, improvement, rehabilitation, modification, or operation and maintenance of water, wastewater, and solid waste disposal facilities.
(e) Construct or furnish a building.
(f) Intervene in the Federal regulatory or adjudicatory proceedings.
(g) Sue the Federal Government or any other government entities.
(h) Pay for any other costs that are not allowable under 2 CFR part 200, as adopted by USDA through 2 CFR part 400.
(i) Make contributions or donations to others.
(j) Fund projects that duplicate technical assistance given to implement action plans under the National Forest-Dependent Rural Communities Economic Diversification Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6613). Applicants cannot receive both grants made under this part and grants that the Forest Service makes to implement the action plans for five continuous years from the date of grant approval by the Forest Service.
(1) The Forest Service helps rural communities that are dependent upon national forest resources diversify existing industries and economies. It establishes rural forestry and economic diversification action teams that prepare technical assistance plans for these rural communities to expand their local economies and reduce their dependence on national forest resources. The Forest Service provides assistance to implement the action plans through grants, loans, cooperative agreements, or contracts.
(2) To avoid duplicate assistance, applicants must contact the Forest Service to find out if any geographical areas or local areas in a State have received grants for technical assistance to an economically disadvantaged community. These areas are defined as national forest-dependent communities under 7 U.S.C. 6612. Applicants will provide documentation to the Forest Service and Rural Utilities Service that they have contacted each agency.
(k) To pay an outstanding judgment obtained by the United States in a Federal Court (other than in the United States Tax Court), which has been recorded. An applicant will be ineligible to receive a loan or grant until the judgment is paid in full or otherwise satisfied.
(l) Recruit applications for the RUS’s water and waste loan or any other loan or grant program. Grant funds cannot be used to create new business; however, they can be used to assist with application preparation.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project narrative describing technical assistance scope and approach
- Budget and budget narrative/justification
- Organizational documents (bylaws, IRS determination letter)
- Proof of regional capacity and past project accomplishments
- Letters of support from rural associations or municipalities to be served
Program contact
- 👤 LAVONDA PERNELL Community Programs Specialist
- 📧 water-rd@usda.gov
- 📞 202-720-9635
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 10.762 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$914,113
-
$830,000
-
$451,000
-
$434,000
-
$412,000
-
$370,000
-
$353,000
-
$347,000
-
$323,000
-
$311,000
Top States by Funding
- NY 6 awards $2.0M
- DC 3 awards $1.8M
- AK 8 awards $1.7M
- UT 5 awards $1.5M
- MA 3 awards $0.8M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 10.762). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $4,294,631 | |
| 2025 | $4,116,113 | |
| 2026 est. | $4,000,000 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status, public bodies, Native American tribes, and academic institutions may apply. Organizations must be incorporated by December 31 of the application year.
What geographic area does this grant cover?
Grants support technical assistance and training on a regional basis to rural associations. Organizations must be located within a U.S. state.
What activities can be funded?
Funding covers technical assistance and training in waste reduction, recycling, landfill operations, closure planning, and water resource assessments. Construction and facility operations are not eligible.
Is cost-sharing required?
No. This grant does not require applicants to provide matching funds or cost-sharing.
How much funding is available?
Awards up to $1,000,000 are possible from a $4,000,000 total funding pool. The average award amount varies annually.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Emphasize your organization's prior experience with similar technical assistance projects. Include specific examples of completed work.
- Clearly document your capacity to serve rural areas regionally. Detail your staff expertise or qualified contractors available.
- Focus proposals on training and technical assistance only. Avoid any mention of construction or facility operations.
- Demonstrate strong partnerships with rural associations or municipalities you plan to serve. Letters of support strengthen applications.
- Review 2 CFR Parts 200 and 400 carefully. Ensure all proposed expenses comply with USDA uniform guidance rules.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Proposing construction, equipment purchases, or facility operations—these are explicitly ineligible. Failing to document regional capacity and prior experience with comparable technical assistance work. Applying without IRS tax-exempt status or proper legal incorporation by the December 31 deadline.
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