Illinois Environmental Protection Agency

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) is publishing a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for food and organics recycling infrastructure. The Agency is making available up to $2.5 Million in funding for the construction of infrastructure used to collect and recycle food and organic waste, including infrastructure used for sorting, depackaging, decontaminating, anaerobically digesting, or composting food or other organic waste. Funding will be awarded based on the review of project proposals. Applications are due: May 1, 2026. The focus of this program is to divert food and organic waste from landfills and recover economically viable constituents that would otherwise be un-utilized.The focus of this program is to divert food and organic waste from landfills and recover economically viable constituents that would otherwise be un-utilized. When food and organics are disposed in landfills, the combination of aerobic and anaerobic processes within the landfill generate methane, carbon dioxide, and other gases commonly known as greenhouse gases. Recycling food and organics will help prevent the creation of these gases and the need for their control at landfills. IEPA aims to focus support on food and organic recycling processes that employ anaerobic digesters or similar technologies to process and recycle food and other organic waste, as well as capture and economically utilize recoverable gases and digestate (residual material left after digestion).

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This will provide seed money to local communities and partners to build critical infrastructure for food and organics recycling.

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Funds under this funding opportunity must be used for actual construction or implementation costs.

ALL;

Government Organization or Private Company representing a Local Government Entity

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Project Grants

Quality of Natural, Cultural, and Environmental Resources

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Applications for projects are due May 1, 2026. The Agency will review the applications for completeness and conduct a technical feasibility analysis. The funds will be limited to actual construction costs and will not be allocated for permitting or zoning costs.

-Technical feasibility. -Costs associated with the project. -Area in the State the project is proposed. -Ability to utilize additional funding sources outside of this grant. -Ability to utilize or collaborate private or public business investments or labor to complete the project.

Grant applications are required to contain the following: • Estimated total construction costs • Timeline for project completion • Population served (number of residents in community or surrounding area) • Additional funding committed for this project from other sources (if any). Grant applications will be reviewed by IEPA and decisions will be issued by June 1, 2026. Funding allocation will be subject to number of proposals and funding availability. Decisions will be issued by June 1, 2026 and money will be available upon obtaining an executed agreement between the applicant and IEPA.

June 1st, 2026 application deadline.

90 days

An appeal must be submitted in writing to the following address: Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Attn: Materials Management and Compliance Section 2520 W Iles Ave, Springfield, Illinois, 62704. Appeals must be received within 14 calendar days after the date that the grant award notice has been published by the Illinois EPA to grants.illinois.gov. The written appeal should include at a minimum the following: the name and address of the appealing party, identification of the grant, and a statement of reasons for the appeal. The Agency will acknowledge receipt of an appeal within 14 calendar days from the date the appeal was received. When an appeal is received, the execution of all grant agreements that the Illinois EPA intends to make under this NOFO shall be stayed until the appeal is resolved, unless the Illinois EPA determines the needs of the State require moving forward with execution of the grant agreements. The State need determination and rationale shall be documented in writing. The Agency will respond within 50 days or supply a written explanation to the appealing party as to why additional time is required. The appealing party must supply any additional information requested by the Illinois EPA within the time period set in the request. The Illinois EPA will resolve the appeal by means of written determination, which shall include, but not be limited to, review of the appeal determination, and rationale for the determination. Neither the State of Illinois nor Illinois EPA is obligated to make any award as a result of this NOFO. Grant applicants are not authorized to proceed with projects until the Director has signed the Grant Agreement.

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The award will not allow for reimbursement of costs incurred prior to the effective date of the grant agreement or after the project period in the grant agreement ends. Applicants will be prohibited from combining funding from this program with other funding such that they receive in excess of 100% funding for any project. For purposes of this NOFO, the terms “Allowable Costs” and “Unallowable Costs” have the same meaning as provided in 44 Ill. Admin. Code Part 7000. Costs not covered by this grant. This list is not all-inclusive: • State or Federal permitting costs. • Local zoning or siting costs. • Land remediation costs for construction. • Waste characterization studies or needs assessments.

Quarterly reporting in AmpliFund including submission of the Periodic Performance Report (PPR) and Periodic Financial Report (PFR). Final quarterly report should include the total amount of sharps collected quarterly and for the whole program year.

Illinois Administrative Code 7000.90

Grantee shall maintain for three (3) years from the date of submission of the final expenditure report, adequate books, all financial records and, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other records pertinent to this Award, adequate to comply with 2 CFR 200.334, unless a different retention period is specified in 2 CFR 200.334, 44 Ill. Admin. Code 7000.430(a) and (b) or PART TWO or PART THREE. If any litigation, claim or audit is started before the expiration of the retention period, the records must be retained until all litigation, claims or audit exceptions involving the records have been resolved and final action taken.

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Program Range is up to $2,500,000.00

Establish infrastructure in the State of Illinois for the collection and recycling of food and organic waste.

See 415 ILCS 5/22.15(i); Section 56.7 of the Illinois Environmental Protection Act; Grant Funds Recovery Act (30 ILCS 705)

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Illinois Environmental Protection Agency 2520 W Iles Ave., P.O. Box 19276 Springfield, IL 62794-9276

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None

FY 2026 : $200,000,000