County Solid Waste Planning

The Illinois Solid Waste Planning and Recycling Act (SWPRA) requires every county to adopt a plan to manage the solid waste generated within its boundaries. These plans are important tools for local planning endeavors and are required to include:

• A recycling program;
• a description of the origin and types of waste generated;
• the facilities for currently handling waste within the county;
• a description of programs planned to handle waste over the next twenty years;
• an evaluation of the environmental, energy, life cycle, and economic advantages and disadvantages of the programs;
• a schedule for implementing the proposals;
• the potential location for sites necessary to implement the proposals; and
• the identity of the governmental entity responsible for implementation.
  

County Solid Waste Planning Grant

Round 1: Illinois EPA approved 11 grantees, with awards totaling $199,990.00.

Round 2: Illinois EPA approved 4 grantees and 6 amendments, with awards totaling $68,600.00.

Round 3: Illinois EPA approved 4 grantees and 6 amendments, with awards totaling $100,000.00.

Illinois EPA provides funding for interested counties and other units of local government required to develop a county solid waste management plan, as required every five years by the SWPRA. In total, 35 out of 102 counties in Illinois (34.3%) have been awarded funding under the County Solid Waste Planning Grant, with project work starting in late April, ,in progress, or already completed. 

Eligible projects include, but are not limited to:

• Conducting a local solid waste and materials management needs assessment;
• Surveying local solid waste and materials management stakeholders to determine programmatic expansion viability;
• Internally authoring solid waste management plan updates; or
• Procuring consulting services to prepare solid waste management plan updates.

Each county or unit of local government required to develop a solid waste management plan is eligible for up to $10,000.00 of funding.

Applicants may not apply for a grant until they are pre-qualified through the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) Grantee Portal, https://grants.illinois.gov/portal/. During pre-qualification, Dun and Bradstreet verifications are performed including a check of Debarred and Suspended status and good standing with the Secretary of State. The pre-award process also includes a financial and administrative risk assessment utilizing an Internal Controls Questionnaire.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Will Illinois EPA provide reporting forms for the end of grant period final report?
A Quarterly Report will be due within 30 days of  March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31, 2023. A final Periodic Performance Report and Periodic Financial Report will be due within 60 days of the end of the agreement period and will be specified in the grant agreement. These are the same reporting forms to use for the quarterly reports, just marked as “final”. The Final Report should be a basic and clear accounting and documentation of the grant funds expenditures. These forms are posted at the top of the page under FORMS.

What are the anticipated dates for round three award recipients and is there any flexibility in those dates?
Except for the September 30, 2025 final eligible project work date, Illinois EPA will work with grantees as needed. Costs expectd to be reimbursed in accordance with this grant can be incurred upon execution of the grant agreement. 

Three NOFOs have been published for the SWP Grant, does Illinois EPA plan for this program to be an annual occurence, with the same process every year, or multiple years?
Illinois EPA has offered three funding opportunities for the SWP Grant due to interest from applicants and the availability of funds. Illinois EPA hopes that this will become a permanent program. Please note, all grant funding is subject to appropriations. 

When can I begin incurring costs?
For round three grantess, work can begin upon execution of the agreement, anticipated by April 30, 2024. 

Does Illinois EPA need to see the contract that is procured with the vendor?
As part of the grant reporting process, yes, the contract information should be provided. 

What are the criteria for approval?

There are Criteria listed specific to the grant and there are additional GATA criteria. These will be listed in the NOFO when published. 

If you have any questions regarding the program, plan issues, or current or future grant applications/reporting contact:

Materials Management and Compliance Section
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
Bureau of Land
Email: epa.recycling@illinois.gov
Phone: (217) 524-3300