Rep. Keith Ellison proposes bill for $100M in EPA zero waste grants
By Cole Rosengren, Waste Dive.
Dive Brief:
- Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) has re-introduced the Zero Waste Development and Expansion Act, which would authorize the Environmental Protection Agency to distribute $100 million in grants between fiscal years 2018 and 2023.
- The grants would be used to help local governments with waste prevention, reuse and recycling strategies. This could include educational programs, technology development and capital investments in processing infrastructure.
- Grant applicants would need to have specific "zero waste" goals in place, with additional weight given to any that had "statutorily committed" to those goals. Proposals that factored in job creation, local manufacturing needs, environmental justice, school programs and other criteria would also be favored. The awardees would be expected to report data to the EPA and attend conferences organized by the agency to share their experiences with other municipalities.