Solid Waste Management Grants 

 

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment Bureau of Waste Management is pleased to offer the 6^th round of Solid Waste Management Grants to Kansas K-12 schools.  Applicants must be registered as a “Green School” through the Green Schools program administered by the Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education (KACEE).  http://www.kansasgreenschools.org/user/register

GENERAL GRANT GUIDELINES

The following are guidelines that generally apply to all the solid waste management grant programs:

1) The application instructions and online grant application can be accessed at http://www.kdheks.gov/waste/about_grants.html.  Please call KDHE Staff at (800) 282-9790 or (785) 296-1600 with any questions.   (NOTE:  A workbook to use in developing your grant application and the application instructions are available for download below).  

2)  Determine if you meet the eligibility requirements.  Pursuant to KSA 65-3415 (b), a current Solid Waste Management Plan for the county in which the school is located must be on file.  KDHE staff can inform you if the county in which your school is located has a current Solid Waste Management Plan (call one of the phone numbers above or your county public works department). 

3) A 25% match is required for Solid Waste Management Grants.  This match may be accomplished by either cash or in-kind contributions, which must be listed as part of your project budget. 

4) Grant projects must fall within the pre-approved categories listed below.  No other projects will be approved.
 

• Waste Audits.  This category could include the purchase of equipment to conduct waste audit such as a scales, gloves, safety glasses, etc. 

• Field trips to recycling centers/landfills/composting facilities.   This category includes fees to pay for transportation, entrance fees, etc.  Schools interested in pursuing field trips are encouraged to make arrangements in advance to ensure that the facility is receptive to receiving field trips.  Important:  If your intended field trip does not include a waste reduction/recycling or solid waste management component, it is not eligible under solid waste grants.  Please ask in advance if you have questions regarding the eligibility of your field trip.  Field trips scheduled after April 30, 2014 will not be eligible. 

• Recycling containers.  This category includes the purchase of various recycling containers.  Recycling containers could be purchased for use in special venues such as sporting events, assemblies or graduation ceremonies.  Everyday uses of recycling containers could include the lunch room or paper receptacles in the classrooms.  Other costs that could be considered in this category might include fees associated for a recycling service to pick up items.

• Purchasing Audit.   This would involve the review of purchasing procedures resulting in recommendations, if needed, for revisions.  Revisions might include items such as the purchase of re-usable items for break rooms, bulk purchasing practices and facilitating recycling of office products such as toner cartridges.  Another example of a recommendation might include phasing in environmentally friendly cleaning products (information on the proper disposal of existing cleaning containers can be obtained through the KDHE Household Hazardous Waste Program at 785-296-1600).

• Composting and vermicomposting equipment.  Composting could include cafeteria waste and landscaping debris.  For technical support in composting issues, please call the Bureau of Waste Management at 785-296-1600.

• Environmental Stewardship Education Programs.  This category could include such items as speaking fees for guest presenters, composting training, recycling and waste reduction awareness training, and vermiculture education.

• Sponsorship of Environmental Program.  Examples from this category could include such items as the purchase of start up materials for an environmental club or materials to conduct a waste reduction/recycling kick off event at the school.  Please keep in mind that food is not an eligible expense.

• Waste Reduction School to Home Projects.  An example of a project in this category could be an education program at school to reduce the usage of plastic bags.  The school could purchase a number of re-usable grocery bags to give students to take home.  The students could be required to record how many plastic bags were used by their family on average weekly before using the re-usable bags.  Extrapolations on how many plastic bags avoided the solid waste stream would be presented as part of the final report due to KDHE.

• Production costs for Bring It Up.  Eligible costs for this free one act play include up to $250.00 for an in school assembly and up to $1,500.00 for a full production.  The production costs could be applied to sets, props and costumes specific to the Bring It Up play.  If you would like additional information specific to the Bring It Up play, please visit http://www.kansasgreenschools.org/bring-it.

5)   Complete the online application form and submit it by the application deadline date.  If a paper copy of the application is needed, click on the document below. The application must be submitted by February 15, 2013. Schools that received waste management grants in previous years are encouraged to apply for next year; however, if more applications are received than funds available, applications to first-time applicants may be a priority.  For more information, contact Karen Lollman at KDHE, 785-291-3510.