Materials Management

​Grants are for projects that reduce environmental impacts of materials and products across their full lifecycle. The lifecycle of materials and products includes product design, raw material extraction, manufacturing, transport, consumption, use, reuse, repair, recovery through recycling, composting or anaerobic digestion, and disposal. For example, DEQ has supported projects linked to changing processes or materials to prevent waste; creating reuse infrastructure; processing and other waste prevention, recycling, composting and waste recovery initiatives. For specific examples of recently funded projects, visit the Materials Management Grants webpage.

• Government entities in Oregon responsible for materials management. This includes but is not limited to cities, counties, metropolitan service districts, regional parks districts, sanitary districts and county service districts.
• 501(c)(3) and (c)(4) nonprofit organizations registered in Oregon (please see additional application requirements).
• Federally-recognized tribal governments located in Oregon.
• Organizations created through intergovernmental agreements as allowed by ORS 190.010.
• Public universities, colleges, community colleges and public schools, but only for projects that prevent the wasting of food. See below for “food waste prevention” project examples.
• Small businesses (50 or fewer employees).*

Eligible applicants may partner with other public or private entities or individuals.

Repeat applicants will have to state the stage of their previous grant projects. DEQ will consider the progress of the previous project during the evaluation of this new application project.

*Small businesses being able to apply directly is a new component for the General Materials Management Grant 2020 cycle. The small business needs to use the funds to reduce the environmental and human health impacts of materials at all stages of their lifecycle.

​Please review the Materials Management grant agreement when considering whether to apply for a grant. A sample grant agreement is found below with the grant instructions and applications. After grant awards are announced, the grantee(s) and DEQ will need to sign a grant agreement before funds become available. It can take one to six months from the time a grant is awarded to the time a grant agreement is signed. The grant recipient needs to have the financial resources to make purchases eligible for reimbursement. Reimbursement may take longer than six weeks.

DEQ is encouraging grant proposals that further the current priorities for implementing Oregon’s 2050 Vision for materials management.

A proposal may receive focus area points for projects that increase or improve online or other access to activities that reduce the environmental and human health impacts of materials (materials management activities).

• Access must comply with state COVID-19-related guidelines and restrictions. Additional points will be awarded for projects that increase or improve access for historically marginalized communities.
  
• A project can touch on either or both of these characteristics. The scoring committee will allocate from zero (0) to twenty (20) points for projects that are linked to the focus area. The number of points attributed to a focus area project will depend on how directly it embodies the focus area and how they explain they are providing a service that is needed by the community targeted (Is somebody else doing similar work? Is there a population not being served right now? Is the community targeted the one saying they need this or it is assumed by the applicant?)

• Administrative costs, such as travel, office expenses, and overhead
• Salaries and benefits for project personnel and payments to consultants or contractors
• Publications and other printed materials
• Machinery, vehicles, equipment, signs, containers and project-related supplies

​No. In the past, the program had a separate application for local governments that were seeking grant funds to cover developing a Materials Management plan (e.g., local strategies to reduce generation of waste or use of toxics, reuse of products or purchase of more durable products or a local guide to help ensure safe management of waste and provide a path toward achieving wasteshed and statewide recovery goals). This year, we are no longer requiring applicants fill out a separate “planning grant” form, and use the standard applications. There will not be a separate application for plan proposals. Planning grants are for local Solid Waste Management Plans and Materials Management Plans. A plan-type project can only be requested by a local government to receive funds to develop their own plan or may contract with private individuals, consulting firms, non-profit organizations or others.

​There are no limits on the number of proposals you may submit.

​Instructions and application forms are at the top of this webpage.

If you have questions, contact Marie Diodati at 503-229-5446 or Marie-Helene.Diodati@deq.state.or.us.

Marie is available to answer questions before the Oct. 2, 2020, deadline, but you are encouraged to reach out as early in advance as possible as you develop your grant application. Marie will answer questions about the completion of your application form.