Solid Waste Management Grant Program
Rural Utilities Service grants fund technical assistance and training to reduce solid waste, improve landfill operations and closure planning, and assess landfill threats to water resources.
Funder: Rural Utilities Service
Due Dates: December 31, 2026 (Full application, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time)
Funding Amounts: Up to $1,000,000 per award; estimated $4,000,000 total; 12-month performance period
Summary: Supports organizations providing free technical assistance and training to improve rural solid waste management and protect water resources.
Key Information: Projects must serve rural areas and towns with populations of 10,000 or less.
Description
USDA Rural Development’s Rural Utilities Service administers the Solid Waste Management Grant Program through its Water and Environmental Programs staff. Grants support qualified organizations providing free technical assistance and training to rural communities, helping reduce or eliminate water pollution and improve solid waste site planning and management.
Supported work includes waste reduction, recycling and reuse, landfill operator training, landfill condition assessments, and planning for closure, safety, maintenance, and future land use. FY 2027 priorities include financial and operational sustainability, assistance with capital financing applications, emerging contaminants such as PFAS, and collection of hazardous household materials, including electronics and pharmaceuticals. This is a technical assistance program, not funding for facility construction or operation.
