Recycling Dividends Program (RDP)
Forecasted
Recycling Dividends Program (RDP) supports Massachusetts cities and towns by funding waste reduction, reuse, recycling, and sustainable purchasing programs to advance municipal waste diversion.
Funder: Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
Due Dates (Anticipated): February 2027 (Prerequisite submissions)
Funding Amounts: Payments based on waste-diversion points and households served by the municipal trash program
Summary: Supports Massachusetts municipalities implementing waste reduction, reuse, and recycling programs through payments for approved expenses.
Key Information: Private subscription communities must adopt comprehensive private hauler regulations to qualify.
Description
The Recycling Dividends Program (RDP) is administered by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) through its Sustainable Materials Recovery Program (SMRP). It provides payments to qualifying Massachusetts cities and towns that have implemented specific waste reduction, reuse, and recycling programs and policies. Evaluation criteria apply to curbside, drop-off, and private subscription communities.
Allocations combine a tiered point system for waste-diversion activities with the number of households served by the municipal trash program. Awards support designated goods, services, and programs for waste reduction and sustainable purchasing. MassDEP verifies eligibility and claimed activities, requires annual expenditure reporting, and audits selected municipalities to check reported information.
