Previous In the Loop with EPA - Circular Economy Updates
EPA's Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery puts out a newsletter monthly to announce resources, events, webinars, funding opportunities, and more from EPA and our partners. Topics covered in this e-newsletter may include: transitioning to a circular economy, reduce, reuse, and recycle, food loss and waste, electronics, plastics, municipal solid waste, and the built environment. For those who may have missed them, below are lists of our previous newsletters and their contents.
On this page:
2025 Newsletters
January 17, 2025
EPA News
- New Report on Environmental Value of Applying Compost.
- EPA Releases Reports on Recycling Infrastructure and Survey on State Data Collection.
- Global Methane Initiative publishes Financial Readiness Framework for Organic Waste Management.
- EPA Publishes New Calculator for Methane Emissions Avoided by Diverting Food Waste from Landfills.
Partner News
- USDA and FDA Seek Public Input on Date Labeling.
- DOE Announces Funding for Waste-to-Energy Projects.
Access the January 2025 newsletter in GovDelivery.
2024 Newsletters
- December 2024 Newsletter
- November 2024 Newsletter
- October 2024 Newsletter
- September 2024 Newsletter
- August 2024 Newsletter
- July 2024 Newsletter
- June 2024 Newsletter
- May 2024 Newsletter
- April 2024 Newsletter
- March 23, 2024 Special Edition
- March 2024 Newsletter
- February 2024 Newsletter
- January 2024 Newsletter
December 19, 2024
EPA News
- EPA Launches Platform for Implementing Circular Economy Strategies.
- EPA Releases Final Updates to Recommendations to Help Buyers Find Sustainable Products.
Partner News
- USDA and FDA Seek Public Input on Date Labeling.
- USDA-NRCS | USDA Seeks Public Input on Climate Benefits of Conservation Practice Standards.
- World Resources Institute Publishes Explainer on Food Waste.
Access the December 2024 newsletter in GovDelivery.
November 21, 2024
EPA News
- EPA Publishes Final “National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution."
- EPA Celebrates America Recycles Day.
- EPA Posts New Frequent Questions about Solar Panel Waste.
- EPA Amended the SWIFR for Tribes and Intertribal Consortia Funding Opportunity.
- EPA Seeks Public Comment by January 23 on Municipal Solid Waste Landfills.
- EPA Posts Materials from Past Working Sessions on Battery Collection Best Practices and Labeling Guidelines.
Partner News
- USDA Awards $8 Million for Food Loss and Waste Projects.
- ReFED Publishes New Report on the Methane Impact of Food Waste.
- Industrious Labs Publishes New Report on Federal Landfill Regulations and Methane Emissions Reduction.
Access the November 2024 newsletter in GovDelivery.
October 17, 2024
EPA News
- EPA Continues Working Sessions on Mid-Format Battery Recycling.
- Check Out New “Escaped Trash Risk Map.”
- New EPA Infographics on the Connections Between Food Waste, Compost, and Climate Change.
- Apply for President’s Environmental Student and Teacher Awards by Jan. 15.
Partner News
- Department of Energy Submits Draft Strategic Framework for Circularity for Public Comment by Dec. 16.
Access the October 2024 newsletter in GovDelivery.
September 17, 2024
EPA News
- EPA Announces $117 Million in Grants Available to Advance Recycling Infrastructure and Prevent Wasted Food.
- Join our Webinars on Battery Collection and Labeling Guidelines for Recycling.
Partner News
- An old glass jar, bottle, or container that you've recycled may be making its way into a sidewalk!
- Turning the Tables on Food Waste - TED Talk from Dana Gunders.
- Participate in International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste.
- New Data Quantifies Methane Emissions Avoided by Food Banks.
- Food Loss and Waste Month on Agrilinks.
Access the September 2024 newsletter in GovDelivery.
August 15, 2024
EPA News
- EPA Publishes New Guidance “Creating Disaster-Resilient Buildings to Minimize Disaster Debris.”
Partner News
- Check out New Resources on Scaling Food Waste Composting.
- Access the Latest U.S. Food Loss and Waste 2030 Champions Milestones Report.
- Check Out New Research on Food Waste Prevention Opportunities in Homes.
Access the August 2024 newsletter in GovDelivery.
July 19, 2024
EPA News
- EPA Releases New Anaerobic Digestion Data.
- EPA Anaerobic Digestion Survey Now Open until August 5.
Partner News
- New Model Ordinance on Community Composting.
Access the July 2024 newsletter in GovDelivery.
June 20, 2024
EPA News
- EPA, USDA and FDA Release National Strategy on Food Loss and Waste.
- EPA Renews and Expands Joint Agency Food Loss and Waste Agreement and Welcomes USAID as an Official Partner.
- EPA, USDA, and FDA renew Formal Agreement with the Food Waste Reduction Alliance.
- EPA Posts Fact Sheets About Recipients of the Recycling Education and Outreach Grants.
- EPA Posts Electric Arc Furnace Slag Sampling Data.
- EPA and USDA Release Food Waste and Methane Fact Sheet.
Partner News
- DOE Announces Electronics Scrap Recycling Advancement Prize.
Access the June 2024 newsletter in GovDelivery.
May 16, 2024
EPA News
- Join EPA June 5 for the Small Business Innovation Research Phase I Solicitation Informational Webinar.
- EPA Hosts Webinar on June 20 to Promote the Collection of Small-Format Batteries.
Partner News
- Explore the New Resource Guides for Food Waste Education.
- Check Out the New Global Farm Loss Tool, Which Provides Insights to Farmers and Buyers.
Access the May 2024 newsletter in GovDelivery.
April 18, 2024
Webinars
- Attend a Webinar on National Strategies for Food Waste and Food Donation on April 23rd.
- EPA Hosts Webinar on Safe Collection, Storage, and Transport of Small-Format Batteries.
Partner News
- United Nations Releases New Food Waste Index Report 2024.
- Check Out Newly Developed Materials on Anaerobic Digestion and communities!
- Learn About Nature’s Climate Champion During International Compost Awareness Week.
Access the April 2024 newsletter in GovDelivery.
March 25, 2024 Special Edition
- Join us for Food Waste Prevention Week (April 1-7, 2024).
Access the March 2024 special edition newsletter in GovDelivery.
March 14, 2024
EPA News
- EPA Introduces New Changes to Polychlorinated Biphenyls Regulations.
Partner News
- Report on Challenges of Contamination in Composting.
- Composting State of Practice Report.
- ReFED Catalytic Grant Fund – Calling Restaurants! Apply by March 25th!
- New Tool for Tracking Methane Emissions from Solid Waste.
Access the March 2024 newsletter in GovDelivery.
February 15, 2024
EPA News
- Check out the New EPA Webpage with Resources for Educating Youth on Wasted Food.
- Wasted Food Scale Available in Additional Languages.
- EPA Extends Public Comment Period for Version 16 of the Waste Reduction Model Tool.
Partner News
- Check out the New Database of Federal Grants to Support Food Waste Initiatives.
- Learn about Food Waste Prevention Week and What Your Organization Can Do.
-
USDA Awards Composting and Food Waste Reduction Cooperative Agreements.
Access the February 2024 newsletter in GovDelivery.
January 18, 2024
EPA News
- Join EPA’s Battery Recycling Working Groups.
- Comment Now on Version 16 of the Waste Reduction Model Tool.
- Comment Now on the Draft National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss and Waste and Recycling Organics.
- EPA Awards Small Business Innovation Research Phase I Grants and Summaries.
Partner News
- Check out the New Database of Federal Grants to Support Food Waste Initiatives.
- Attend the National Climate Assessment Webinar Series from Jan-March.
- Attend a Webinar on Funding Zero Waste Projects Under EPA’s CPRG Program on Jan 24th.
- USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Seeking Entity for Grant Program Manager/Coordinator – Apply by Jan 31st.
2023 Newsletters
- December 2023 Newsletter
- November 2023 Newsletter
- October 2023 Newsletter
- September 2023 Newsletter
- September 13, 2023 Special Edition
- September 5, 2023 Special Edition
- August 2023 Newsletter
- July 2023 Newsletter
- June 2023 Newsletter
- May 2023 Newsletter
- April 2023 Newsletter
- March 2023 Newsletter
- February 2023 Newsletter
- January 2023 Newsletter
December 20, 2023
EPA News
- EPA, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Food and Drug Administration Request Comment on Draft National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss and Waste and Recycling Organics.
- EPA Launches New Composting Webpages and Community Composting Videos.
- EPA Announces Research Funding for Two Small Businesses for Recycling Technologies.
- EPA Will Host a Webinar in January on Two Recent Food Waste Reports.
Partner News
- New Survey on Household Wasted Food.
- A Model for a Pay-As-You-Throw Program.
- National Climate Assessment Webinar Series.
- New Roadmap for Reducing Food Loss and Waste.
Access the November 2023 newsletter in GovDelivery.
November 15, 2023
EPA News
- EPA Announces Over $90 Million for Recycling Grants Nationwide.
-
EPA Launches New Study with the National Academy of Sciences to Assess the Costs of Recycling Programs.
Partner News
- Webinar: Minding the Gap: Consumer Awareness of Packaging Technologies & Food Waste Reduction.
-
NIST Food Waste Reduction and Recovery Workshop.
Access the November 2023 newsletter in GovDelivery.
October 19, 2023
EPA News
- EPA Releases New Food Waste Reports.
Partner News
- Check Out New Natural Resources Defense Council Videos: Food is Made to Be Eaten.
- Read the Priority Climate Action Plan Guide: Organic Waste & Landfill Methane Strategies.
- U.S. Composting Council and Biodegradable Plastics Institute Release New Labeling Guidelines.
- World Resources Institute Publishes Sustainable Development Goal Target 12.3: 2023 Progress Report.
Access the October 2023 newsletter in GovDelivery.
September 21, 2023
EPA News
- EPA Selects Recycling Infrastructure Projects.
- EPA Posts Example Local Government Climate Action Plans that Address Materials Management and Waste.
Partner News
- September is Food Loss and Waste Month.
- Nationwide Survey Results Released: Full-Scale Food Waste Composting Infrastructure in the U.S.
- Webinar: Food Scrap Diversion for Multifamily Housing.
- International Day of Awareness on Food Loss and Food Waste Reduction.
- Community Composting 101 Online Certificate Course.
- Webinar: Residential Food Waste Regulatory Strategies.
- Webinar: Food Product Labeling: Challenges of Defining Sustainability.
- World Food Day.
- Webinar: Serving up Sustainability: From Restaurants to the Home Kitchen.
Access the September 2023 newsletter in GovDelivery.
September 13, 2023 Special Edition
U.S. Invests More than $100 Million in Recycling Infrastructure Projects Through Investing in America Agenda
EPA grants funded in part by largest recycling investment in 30 years under former President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
- Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grants for Communities.
- Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grants for States and Territories.
- Additional Background.
Access the September 13, 2023 special edition in GovDelivery.
September 5, 2023 Special Edition
- EPA and Partners Will Host a Webinar about Climate Action Plans and Food Waste Reduction.
- EPA Posts Example Local Government Climate Action Plans that Address Materials Management and Waste.
Access the September 5, 2023 special edition in GovDelivery.
August 18, 2023
EPA News
-
EPA Releases Version 3 of the Excess Food Opportunities Map.
Partner News
-
Nationwide Survey Results Released: Full-Scale Food Waste Composting Infrastructure in the U.S.
Access the August 2023 newsletter in GovDelivery.
July 20, 2023
EPA News
-
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Publishes 303 Plastics Report to Congress.
Access the July 2023 newsletter in GovDelivery.
June 22, 2023
EPA News
- EPA Extends Comment Period for the Draft National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution.
- Join Us for Webinars about Our Grants!
- EPA Publishes "Composting Food Scraps in Your Community: A Social Marketing Toolkit."
Access the June 2023 newsletter in GovDelivery.
May 19, 2023
EPA News
- EPA Offers New Resource for Community Food Waste Prevention.
- EPA Seeks Public Comment on the Recycling Infrastructure and Market Opportunities Map.
- EPA Seeks Feedback on the Draft National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution.
- EPA Opens the Fifth Round of Surveys of Anaerobic Digestion Facilities Processing Food Waste in the U.S.
- EPA Launches Interactive Map of Sea Level Rise Around Hazardous Waste Sites Along the U.S. Coastline.
Access the May 2023 newsletter in GovDelivery.
April 21, 2023
Happy Earth Day!
EPA News
- EPA Seeks Comment on the Draft National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution.
- Upcoming Webinar: Draft National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution.
- EPA Releases its Fourth Summary Report on Anaerobic Digestion Facilities Processing Food Waste in the United States.
- EPA’s Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery (ORCR) Summarizes Fiscal Year 2022 Accomplishments.
- EPA Announces Updated Wasted Food Estimates.
- EPA Awards Nearly $1.5M in Research Grants to Reduce U.S. Household Food Waste.
- Upcoming Webinar: How Houses of Worship Can Get Surplus Farm Produce, Through Gleaning, to People in Need.
Access the April 2023 newsletter in GovDelivery.
March 24, 2023
EPA News
- Apply for the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) Grants for Tribes and Intertribal Consortia!
- EPA Publishes a Beneficial Use Evaluation of Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) Gypsum in Agriculture.
- EPA Celebrates Food Waste Prevention Week.
- EPA Will Hold a Webinar on Climate Action Plan Deconstruction and Reuse.
- Training Resources for Tribal Waste Management.
Access the March 2023 newsletter in GovDelivery.
February 16, 2023
EPA Funding Opportunities
- NEW! Questions and Answers document for the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) Grants for Tribes and Intertribal Consortia.
- Application Period is Closed for SWIFR Political Subdivisions and Recycling Education and Outreach (REO) RFAs.
Partner News
- FTC Green Guides – Public Comment Period Extended Until April 24th.
- USDA Invests $9.4 Million in Compost and Food Waste Reduction Projects.
Access the February 2023 newsletter in GovDelivery.
January 19, 2023
EPA News
-
Are You Trying to Create Messages that Drive Behavior Change?
Partner News
- Food Donation Improvement Act Signed into Law.
- Food Donation in the FDA 2022 Food Code.
Access the January 2023 newsletter in GovDelivery.
2022 Newsletters
December 15, 2022
EPA News
- Deadline Extended to Apply for $100 Million in Grants Toward Recycling Infrastructure and Education and Outreach!
- EPA Announces Recycling Education and Outreach Grants ($30,000,000).
- EPA Announces Political Subdivisions Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grants ($30,000,000).
- EPA Announces State and Territories Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grants ($40,000,000).
- Creating Messages that Drive Behavior Change.
- EPA Released a Recycling Program Toolkit.
- Proposed Renewable Fuel Standards for 2023, 2024, and 2025.
- EPA Electronics Sustainability-Focused Session at the Consumer Electronics Show 2023.
Access the December 2022 newsletter in GovDelivery.
November 15, 2022
EPA News
- EPA Released A Recycling Program Toolkit.
- Apply for New Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funding for Recycling & Composting -- $100 Million is Now Available!
- Political Subdivisions Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grants ($30,000,000).
- State and Territories Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grants ($40,000,000).
- Recycling Education and Outreach Grants ($30,000,000).
- Calling All Environmental Educators! Apply now for the Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators.
- Calling All K-12 Students! Apply now for the President’s Environmental Youth Award.
Access the November 2022 newsletter in GovDelivery.
October 27, 2022
EPA News
-
In Case You Missed It: Progress Report on Circular Economy.
Partner News
- The Center for EcoTechnology recently developed resources on food waste prevention, donation, and processing through anaerobic digestion.
- Check out case studies with information on how reducing wasted food is good for business!
- Learn about processing wasted food using anaerobic digesters, with guidance on Food Waste Separation for Anaerobic Digestion Processing.
- Northeast Anaerobic Digestion Accelerator, a two-year project funded by EPA’s Anaerobic Digestion in Communities grants, put together Food Waste Digestion Insights.
Funding Opportunities
-
Prepare Now for Upcoming Grants!