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.Apply for SWMFY26
- 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.
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Solid Waste Management Grant Program (SWMFY26) FAQs
What is the Solid Waste Management Grant Program (SWMFY26)?
The Solid Waste Management Grant Program (SWMFY26) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the USDA Rural Utilities Service (RUS), CFDA 10.762. It focuses on improving solid waste practices in rural areas by funding hands-on technical assistance and training, rather than construction or other "bricks-and-mortar" projects.
What is the main goal of this program?
The program is designed to help rural communities and landfill operators:
- Reduce the volume of waste going to disposal
- Strengthen day-to-day landfill operations
- Address environmental risks, especially when landfills may threaten water resources
Is this funding meant for construction or facility upgrades?
No. The program is specifically oriented toward technical assistance and training. It cannot be used for construction or for improving, rehabilitating, or modifying solid waste disposal facilities (or water/wastewater facilities). It also cannot be used to construct or furnish a building.
What kinds of activities can the grant pay for?
Grant funds can support technical assistance and training activities that improve solid waste management outcomes, including:
- Education and support to reduce the solid waste stream through waste reduction, recycling, and reuse programs
- Planning and practical training to improve implementation of waste reduction, recycling, and reuse programs
- Training for landfill operators to improve skills for running and maintaining active landfills (including operational best practices and compliance-focused procedures)
- Technical assistance and training for landfills that are closed or expected to close soon, including closure plans, future land use planning, safety and maintenance routines, and closure schedules aligned with permit requirements
- Evaluation of current landfill conditions to identify potential threats to water resources
What expenses does the grant cover?
The grant can pay expenses related to delivering technical assistance and training services. The emphasis is on costs necessary to provide expertise, guidance, and instruction to eligible rural recipients.
What are the most important restrictions on how funds can be used?
The opportunity includes extensive restrictions. Among the key limits, funds cannot be used for:
- Construction
- Improvement, rehabilitation, modification, or operation and maintenance of water, wastewater, or solid waste disposal facilities
- Constructing or furnishing a building
- Purchasing real estate or vehicles
- Renovations or improvements to office space
- Repair and maintenance of privately owned property
- Political or lobbying activities
- Intervening in federal regulatory or adjudicatory proceedings
- Suing the federal government or other government entities
- Donations or contributions to others
- Creating a new business
Can funds be used as general operating support for an organization?
No. The program is not intended to serve as a general operating subsidy or to replace other funding sources.
Can this grant replace services already being provided or paid for elsewhere?
No. Funds cannot be used to duplicate existing services or replace support that would normally come from other sources.
Are feasibility studies, designs, and cost estimates allowed uses of funding?
The restrictions state the grant cannot 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.
Can grant funds be used for lobbying or political advocacy?
No. Political or lobbying activities are prohibited.
Can grant funds be used to buy land, buildings, or equipment like vehicles?
No. Purchases of real estate or vehicles are not allowed. The program also does not allow constructing or furnishing a building.
Can grant funds be used to renovate an office or improve office space?
No. Renovations or improvements to office space are not allowed.
Can the grant pay to repair or maintain privately owned property?
No. Repair and maintenance of privately owned property is not an allowable use.
Can the grant be used to operate or maintain a landfill or disposal facility?
No. The grant cannot be used for the operation and maintenance of solid waste disposal facilities (and also cannot be used for operation and maintenance of water or wastewater facilities). The focus is training and technical assistance, not running facilities.
Can a project include training for active landfill operators?
Yes. Training to improve operator skills for running and maintaining active landfills is an allowed activity, including operational best practices and compliance-focused procedures aimed at reducing safety and environmental problems.
Can a project support planning and training for closed landfills or landfills nearing closure?
Yes. The program supports technical assistance and training for landfills that are already closed or expected to close soon, including closure planning, future land use planning, safety and maintenance routines, and closure schedules that remain within permit requirements.
Can a project include evaluating landfill conditions related to water resources?
Yes. Evaluating current landfill conditions to identify potential threats to water resources is included as an eligible type of grant-supported work.
Who can apply for SWMFY26?
Eligibility is limited to organizations (not individuals and not for-profit companies). Eligible applicants include:
- Private nonprofit organizations with IRS tax-exempt status
- Public bodies
- Federally acknowledged or state-recognized Native American tribes or groups
- Academic institutions
Who is not eligible to apply?
Ineligible applicants include:
- Individuals
- Private (for-profit) businesses
- Federal agencies
Are there location requirements for applicants?
Yes. Entities must be legally established and located within a state as defined by the program regulations.
Is there an incorporation deadline for applicant organizations?
Yes. Organizations must be incorporated by December 31 of the year in which the application period occurs to qualify.
What does the program require beyond basic eligibility?
Applicants must demonstrate they can deliver regional technical assistance and training. This includes showing:
- A proven background and experience, demonstrated through satisfactory completion of similar past projects
- Legal authority to provide the assistance
- Real capacity to deliver the proposed technical assistance on a regional basis
How can an applicant meet the capacity requirement?
The program indicates capacity can be demonstrated in multiple ways, including:
- Having the necessary in-house staff and resources
- Using an affiliate or member organization with the required experience that commits in writing to provide the assistance
- Contracting with a nonaffiliated organization, subject to subcontracting limits
How much subcontracting is allowed under this grant?
No more than 49 percent of the grant can be subcontracted for providing the proposed technical assistance and training.
What are the rules about duplication with Forest Service technical assistance?
There is 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.
Can an applicant receive both this grant and certain Forest Service grants?
No. 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.
What coordination is expected with the Forest Service to avoid overlap?
Applicants are expected to contact the Forest Service to determine whether any relevant geographic areas have already received such technical assistance, and to document to both the Forest Service and the Rural Utilities Service that this coordination occurred.
Are there any legal/judgment-related eligibility restrictions?
Yes. 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.
Can grant funds be used to recruit applicants for other RUS loan/grant programs?
No. The program bars using funds to recruit applications for RUS water and waste loans or other loan/grant programs.
Can grant funds be used to help communities prepare applications?
Yes. While recruiting applications is prohibited, assistance with application preparation is allowed.
Are all costs allowable as long as they support the project?
No. The program may not 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).
What is the application closing date listed for this opportunity?
The funding opportunity lists an application closing date of 2025-12-31.
How many awards does USDA anticipate making?
The opportunity anticipates about 40 awards.
What is the maximum award amount (ceiling) per grant?
The award ceiling is up to $1,000,000 per grant.
Is the program primarily about building community capacity?
Yes. Based on the described scope and restrictions, the program is best understood as a capacity-building grant focused on improving solid waste practices and landfill stewardship through training and expert technical support.
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