Investing in America through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Recycling Education and Outreach Grant Program Fact Sheet Walking Mountains Highlights Selected Grant Recipient Name: Walking Mountains Project Location: Eagle County, CO Project Title: Inclusive Community Based Recycling Project • Increases diversion rates to 35% in Eagle County by 2026. • Increases Latinx participation in the Eagle County Climate Action Collaborative by 25% and creates authentic partnerships with EPA Information Region: EPA Region 8 Latinx community members. Grant Funding: $568,832 The Inclusive Community Based Recycling Project amplifies current recycling programs, ensuring everyone in Eagle County understands where, why and how to recycle and has equitable access to do so. As Eagle County's recycling efforts continue to grow, recycling education and outreach efforts in disadvantaged communities are a priority. The project recruits and trains Defensores de Reciclaje (Recycling Advocates) in neighborhoods chosen based on survey, interview and focus group results. These volunteers are community members who have a particular interest in supporting waste diversion efforts. They build trust and work with the Latinx community in Eagle County to help amplify and increase the success of recycling programs. REO Grants The 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides the largest EPA investment in recycling in 30 years to support National Recycling Strategy implementation and build a circular economy for all. As part of the Investing in America agenda, this funding supports improvements to waste management systems and programs, allowing resources to be used more efficiently and reducing the impact on the climate. REO grant funding can be used to inform the public about residential or community recycling programs, provide information about the recycled materials that are accepted as part of a residential or community recycling program, and increase collection rates and decrease contamination in residential and community recycling programs. These grants also advance the Justice40 Initiative, which aims to ensure that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved and overburdened by pollution. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law also requires that 20% of the grant funding go to communities that are low-income, rural or Native American. EPA will make the award to Walking Mountains once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied. Other Recycling Grant Funding in Colorado Colorado SWIFR State Grant Fact Sheet Chaffee County SWIFR Community Grant Fact Sheet EPA 530-F-24-005-TT Consumer Recycling Fducation and Outreach Grant Program April 2024 ------- |