Solid Waste Management Grant Program | SWMFY26

Opportunity Information: Apply for SWMFY26

The Solid Waste Management Grant Program (SWMFY26) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the USDA Rural Utilities Service (CFDA 10.762) focused on improving solid waste practices in rural areas by funding hands-on technical assistance and training rather than bricks-and-mortar projects. The program is built around helping communities and landfill operators reduce the volume of waste going to disposal, strengthen day-to-day landfill operations, and address environmental risks, especially where landfills may threaten water resources. The funding opportunity lists an application closing date of 2025-12-31, anticipates about 40 awards, and sets an award ceiling of up to $1,000,000 per grant.

On the allowed-use side, the grant is designed to pay for technical assistance and training activities that improve solid waste management outcomes. Funded work can include education and support that helps communities reduce the solid waste stream through waste reduction, recycling, and reuse programs, including planning and practical training that improves how those programs are implemented. Funds can also be used to train landfill operators to improve their skills in running and maintaining active landfills, which can cover operational best practices, compliance-focused procedures, and the types of training that reduce safety and environmental problems. For landfills that are already closed or expected to close soon, the program also supports technical assistance and training aimed at developing and carrying out closure plans, planning for future land uses, setting up safety and maintenance routines, and building closure schedules that stay within permit requirements. In addition, grant-supported work may include evaluating current landfill conditions to identify potential threats to water resources. The grant can pay the related expenses of delivering these technical assistance and training services, meaning the emphasis is on the costs necessary to provide expertise, guidance, and instruction to eligible rural recipients.

The restrictions are extensive and make it clear the program is not meant to replace other funding sources or serve as a general operating subsidy. Funds cannot be used to duplicate existing services or to replace support that would normally come from other sources, including work typically performed by an association consultant for tasks such as feasibility studies, design, and cost estimates. The program also prohibits political or lobbying activities and does not allow purchases of real estate or vehicles, renovations or improvements to office space, or repair and maintenance of privately owned property. Importantly, it cannot pay for construction or for the improvement, rehabilitation, modification, or operation and maintenance of water, wastewater, or solid waste disposal facilities, and it also cannot be used to construct or furnish a building. The grant may not be used to intervene in federal regulatory or adjudicatory proceedings, to sue the federal government or other government entities, or to cover any costs that are unallowable under the federal cost principles in 2 CFR part 200 (as adopted by USDA through 2 CFR part 400). Donations or contributions to others are not allowed, and the program bars using funds to recruit applications for RUS water and waste loans or other loan/grant programs, although it does allow assistance with application preparation. The notice also states the funds cannot be used to create a new business.

There is also a specific anti-duplication rule tied to the National Forest-Dependent Rural Communities Economic Diversification Act of 1990. Projects cannot duplicate technical assistance provided under Forest Service action plans authorized by that law, and an applicant cannot receive both this grant and Forest Service grants used to implement those action plans for five continuous years from the date of Forest Service grant approval. To prevent overlap, applicants are expected to contact the Forest Service to determine whether any relevant geographic areas have already received such technical assistance; applicants must document to both the Forest Service and the Rural Utilities Service that this coordination occurred. Separately, an entity is ineligible if it has an outstanding recorded federal court judgment obtained by the United States (other than in U.S. Tax Court) until that judgment is paid in full or otherwise satisfied.

Eligibility is limited to organizations, not individuals or for-profit companies. Eligible applicant types include private nonprofit organizations with IRS tax-exempt status, public bodies, federally acknowledged or state-recognized Native American tribes or groups, and academic institutions. Entities must be legally established and located within a state as defined by the program regulations, and organizations must be incorporated by December 31 of the year in which the application period occurs to qualify. Private businesses, federal agencies, and individuals are explicitly ineligible.

Beyond basic eligibility, applicants must demonstrate that they can actually deliver regional technical assistance and training. The program requires a proven background and experience, shown through satisfactory completion of similar past projects, along with legal authority and real capacity to provide the proposed assistance on a regional basis. Capacity can be met in several ways: by having the necessary in-house staff and resources, by relying on an affiliate or member organization with the required experience that commits in writing to provide the assistance, or by contracting with a nonaffiliated organization, with the limitation that no more than 49 percent of the grant can be subcontracted for providing the proposed assistance. Overall, the program is best understood as a capacity-building grant aimed at improving solid waste practices and landfill stewardship through training and expert technical support, while drawing a hard line against capital projects, facility operations, lobbying, and overlapping federal assistance.

• The Rural Utilities Service in the community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Solid Waste Management Grant Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.762.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2025-10-01.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-12-31. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 40 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for SWMFY26

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: