Press Release: 11/13/2025

Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards Over $4 Million in Recycling and Waste Reduction Grants

 



Supports 280 Municipal and Regional Programs Across Massachusetts



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:



11/12/2025



MEDIA CONTACT



Fabienne Alexis, Public Affairs Assistant Director / MassDEP



 Phone



Call Fabienne Alexis, Public Affairs Assistant Director / MassDEP at 857-274-7522



 Online



Email Fabienne Alexis, Public Affairs Assistant Director / MassDEP at fabienne.alexis@mass.gov



$4M to 280 communities, recycling icon on state of Massachusetts



BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced more than $4 million in Sustainable Materials Recovery Program grants to 280 municipalities and regional collaboratives to help communities maximize recycling, composting and waste reduction.



"These grants support our communities, expand recycling and composting efforts, and target new materials to remove from the waste stream," said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. "We are committed to ensuring our cities and towns have the resources they need to become more sustainable and achieve their goals of reducing disposal costs and the amount of waste in our landfills."



"Each time we reuse or recycle, we are contributing to a more sustainable future," said MassDEP Commissioner Bonnie Heiple. "This funding supports local innovation and expansion of programs that make it easier for residents to minimize waste."



MassDEP’s Sustainable Materials Recovery Program (SMRP) provides funding for recycling, composting, reuse, and source reduction activities that decrease the amount of waste disposed of in landfills and incinerators. In addition to minimizing solid waste, SMRP projects boost resiliency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by capturing the embodied energy in everyday products and packaging materials for conversion into new products.



More than $60 million has been awarded through SMRP since 2010. This year, awards are being granted through six programs that operate under the SMRP umbrella: the Recycling Dividends Program, Regional Small-scale Initiatives, Drop-off Recycling Equipment, Food Waste Collection Carts, Pay-As-You-Throw, and Waste Reduction projects.



The Recycling Dividends Program supports municipal policies and programs proven to maximize materials reuse and recycling, as well as waste reduction. This year, 271 communities will receive awards totaling nearly $2.95 million. Eight municipalities are being awarded RDP grants of more than $50,000: Boston, Brockton, Cambridge, Lowell, New Bedford, Newton, Springfield, and Worcester.



Additional grant funds are being awarded to support start-up incentives for Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) waste reduction programs, wheeled carts for the curbside collection of residential food waste, recycling equipment for targeted materials at a municipal recycling drop-off or transfer station (“facility”), and regional small-scale initiatives to support regional entities working with multiple municipalities.



The awards include:




  • $518,000 in total funding for PAYT programs, awarded to 4 municipalities.

  • $400,000 total for various drop-off recycling equipment, including cardboard compactors, source-separated glass containers, paint sheds, food waste containers and collection systems to be located at a drop-off facility, reuse swap sheds for facilitating the reuse of durable household goods, and Universal Waste (UW) Sheds for the collection of mercury-bearing goods.

  • $82,500 for wheeled carts for the curbside collection of residential food waste, awarded to 5 municipalities.

  • $8,000 for regional small-scale initiatives, awarded to 5 regional groups.



Finally, MassDEP is also awarding two large-scale grants to expand reuse, recycling, composting, or household hazardous waste programs.




  • $90,000 to the Cape Cod Cooperative Extension to facilitate food rescue and other sustainable solutions for food waste.

  • $31,000 to the City of Somerville to upgrade its household hazardous waste facility to facilitate proper disposal of hazardous products for residents.



The full list of SMRP awards is available online: List of 2025 Municipal/Regional Grant Awards



Please visit the Sustainable Materials Recovery Program online for more information, including information about upcoming grant eligibility.



Statements of Support:



Senator Julian Cyr (D-Truro):



"These Sustainable Materials Recovery grants are a terrific example of how smart investments can help Cape Codders and Islanders reduce waste, lower emissions, and protect our fragile environment. I'm grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration and the team at MassDEP for continuing to partner with our towns and Barnstable County on practical solutions to build a more sustainable future."



Representative Meghan Kilcoyne (D-Northborough):



"Our communities are stronger when we invest in sustainability at the local level. I'm proud to see Berlin, Boylston, Clinton, Northborough, and Sterling receive this funding to advance recycling, composting, and waste reduction efforts. These grants will help our towns reduce costs, protect our environment, and support innovative practices that keep valuable materials out of our landfills. I'm grateful to MassDEP for recognizing the leadership of our municipalities and for supporting their continued commitment to environmental stewardship on behalf of residents today and for generations to come."



Representative Hadley Luddy (D-Orleans):



"I'm proud to see so many outer Cape towns recognized through the Sustainable Materials Recovery Program. Our Cape communities care deeply about protecting our beautiful environment, and these grants will help them continue that important work. I'm grateful to the Department of Environmental Protection for investing in the 4th Barnstable District and for their dedication to creating a more sustainable Massachusetts."