EPA Announces More Than $8 Million to Tribes in Oklahoma for Recycling Infrastructure Projects as Part of America Recycles Day

On America Recycles Day, EPA announces grants under President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, funded in part by the largest recycling investment in 30 years

November 30, 2023

DALLAS, TEXAS (November 30, 2023) – In conjunction with America Recycles Day, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the Cherokee Nation, Modoc Nation, Muscogee Creek Nation, the Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians, and the Wyandotte Nation will receive a total of $6,092,098 in Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling grants for Tribes and Intertribal Consortia to expand recyling infrastructure. The United Keetoowah Band will receive $2,000,000 in Recycling Education and Outreach grants to provide additional opportunities for recyling. As part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, a key pillar of Bidenomics, these grants will expand education for waste management systems across the region.

“Today, on America Recycles Day, we are putting historic recycling investments into communities, made possible by President Biden’s Investing in America agenda,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Two years ago today, the President signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and with it, unleashed unprecedented funding to enable Tribes and communities to update recycling and composting infrastructure, while also advancing education programs to increase recycling rates and reduce waste.”

“The Tribes of Oklahoma are the original stewards of their land, and remain strong protectors of their resources and communities,” said Regional Administrator Dr. Earthea Nance. “With these grants, the Tribes can increase their sustainability and increase capacity for recycling in Tribal homes and businesses.”

These grants reflect the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to tackling environmental justice and the climate crisis. Many communities with environmental justice concerns carry a disproportionate environmental and human health burden from waste management. As part of President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, 100% of the funding allocated in EPA’s SWIFR for Tribes grants and 74% of the funding allocated in the REO grants will benefit underserved and overburdened communities. Increasing recycling is also an important way to reduce pollution because natural resource extraction and processing make up half of all global greenhouse gas emissions that drive the climate crisis. Recycling reduces the need to extract resources such as timber, water, and minerals for new products.

Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grants for Tribes and Intertribal Consortia

The SWIFR grants for Tribes and Intertribal Consortia will enable Tribes to make improvements to their recycling and waste management systems, meeting Congress’ goal to create a stronger, more resilient, and cost-effective U.S. municipal solid waste recycling system. EPA has announced the selection of 59 selectees to receive over $60 million through the program.

Examples of selected projects include:

• The Cherokee Nation will receive $1,492,425 to develop and implement infrastructure and capacity to divert brush, miscellaneous vegetation, and wood wastes from the Tribally owned and operated landfill, and subsequently recycle the material for beneficial uses. These activities are designed to reduce local pollution hazards such as landfill contamination, landfill greenhouse gas emissions, and soil erosion into surface water.
• The Modoc Nation will receive $1,245,786 to reduce contamination in the recycled materials stream, enhance policies and programs to support circularity, increase collection, and improve materials management infrastructure. With this funding, the Modoc Nation seeks to purchase new equipment, hire new employees, and seeks to acquire land for the establishment of a new waste management facility.
• The Muscogee Creek Nation will receive $906,621 to support the expansion of their Solid Waste Post-Consumer Materials Management Program. This objective will be achieved by purchasing new solid waste transportation equipment, including trucks, a compactor, containers for sorting and recycling, and recycling stations. The expected result of these new purchases is to remove obstacles hindering recycling infrastructure growth in impacted communities.
• The Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians will receive $1,500,000 to implement a solid waste recycling plan, to build a recycling center in a rural underserved area, and to track recycling data. The result of this funding is expected to expand recycling availability, increase awareness of waste management, and reduce solid waste contamination.
• The Wyandotte Nation will receive $947,266 to expand and improve the Lost Creek Recycling Center. To achieve this goal, the Wyandotte Nation plans to construct major renovations at the recycling center, purchase collection bins for recyclables, and purchase recycling equipment and other items for post-consumer materials management recovery.

For a list of the 59 selected grant selectees for the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling for Tribes and Intertribal Consortia funding, please visit: EPA’s Recipients and Selectees webpage.

Recycling Education and Outreach Grants

The Recycling Education and Outreach grant projects will help inform the public about local recycling and composting programs and focus on increasing collection rates and decreasing contamination of recycling streams across the nation. EPA has announced 25 selectees to receive over $33 million in Recycling Education and Outreach grants.

Examples of projects that have been selected include: 

• United Keetoowah Band will receive $2,000,000 to develop a project to provide better resources and technical assistance for Tribal members, and to inform and educate them about recycling opportunities.

To learn more about the Recycling Education and Outreach funding, please visit: EPA’s Recipients and Selectees webpage.

America Recycles Day

Today marks both the 29th America Recycles Day, the second anniversary of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the second anniversary of EPA’s National Recycling Strategy. The National Recycling Strategy was the first in a series of EPA strategies devoted to building a circular economy – one that reduces material use, redesigns materials, products, and services to be less resource intensive, and recaptures “waste” as a resource to manufacture new materials and products.

To build upon the goals of the recycling strategy, EPA released the Draft National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution for public comment in April. The Draft Strategy outlines steps to reduce pollution during production, improve management of plastic materials throughout product lifecycles, and encourage actions to keep plastics out of national waterways and the environment. Future strategies will address food waste and electronics.

EPA also recently announced over $105 million for the selectees of the historic SWIFR grants for states and communities. These improvements will support a circular economy, help lower greenhouse gas emissions, as more efficient waste management systems are key to reducing energy consumption and the need for raw materials, while rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure, powered by well-paying jobs that don’t require four-year degrees.

Visit EPA’s website to learn more ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle. 

EPA offers many free, online resources, including:

• Model Recycling Toolkit. 
• Composting Food Scraps in Your Community: A Social Marketing Toolkit.
• Wasted Food Scale: Updated Recommendations.
• Standardized Terms for Materials Accepted by Municipal Recycling Programs.

• Creating Messages that Drive Behavior Change.
• Recycling Infrastructure and Market Opportunities Map.

Learn more about America Recycles Day.

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