The Maine Department of Environmental Protection is seeking grant applications to assist in the creation, implementation, or enhancement of initiatives, programs, or projects that aim to divert more solid waste from being disposed of.
 
The DEP granted a total of $100,028.50 to fund 5 waste diversion projects across Maine during the second round of 2022 this past autumn. These grants are helping to develop a food scrap collection and composting program for one municipality, enable another municipality to improve the quality of their compost products, assist a third community in providing food scrap collection to its diverse multi-cultural community through the creation of translated signs and other advertisements, and lastly, to aid accessibility to a community-based resource recovery and reuse facility in central Maine.

A copy of the RFP, as well as the Question & Answer Summary and all amendments related to this RFP, can be obtained at the following website: https://www.maine.gov/dafs/bbm/procurementservices/vendors/grants.

All interested municipalities, regional associations and Maine businesses are encouraged to apply.  The DEP will provide awards for accepted proposals ranging from $1,000 - $40,000 ($125,000 total) as a result of this RFP process and prefers proposals that:

• take advantage of regional economies of scale,

• Specify reuse and repair infrastructure and program development

• increase organics management and recycling infrastructure in underserved areas of the state,

• promote waste reduction through reuse, repair and sharing economy initiatives,

• address a statewide need, and/or
• expand the types of materials managed through composting and recycling.

In addition, in accordance with 38 MRSA §2201-B. Maine Solid Waste Diversion Grant Program, the Department shall give highest priority in the awarding of funds under this section to programs, projects, initiatives, or activities proposed by municipal or regional association applicants.   

Application details on the RFP # 202301008 – “Waste Diversion Grants Program” are available on-line at Request for Proposals, Maine DEP. Written questions on the RFP must be submitted by February 19, 2023 (using the form included in the RFP), and proposals must be submitted electronically by 4:00 p.m. March 7, 2023.