Solid Waste Management Grant Program

Each year, DEQ allocates funds to Oklahoma communities for solid waste management assistance.

Let's see how those funds are put to use...

Program Overview

Each fiscal year, when funding becomes available, DEQ issues a press release announcing an application window from December to February. Applications are reviewed and scored by the program's Grant Application Review Committee. Scores are based on various factors, such as the quality of the proposal, the degree of environmental improvement, and past performance, if applicable. New applicants are prioritized.

Grant Categories:

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Environmental Officer Grants

curtail illegal dumping. They provide funds for the salary of one part-time officer as well as clean-up assistance.

Equipment Grants

help manage green waste, food waste recycling, HHW facilities, and more.

Examples include chippers, balers, rolloffs, HHW drums, receptacles/containers, excavator attachments, and compost spreaders.

Collection Event Grants

allow citizens to conveniently dispose of hazardous and difficult-to-dispose materials.

DEQ encourages communities to collect as many items as possible at each event. Examples include:

  • House Hold Hazardous Waste (HHW)
  • Tires
  • Electronic Waste
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Medical Sharps
  • Scrap Metal
  • Bulky Waste
  • General Refuse
  • Recyclables
  • Clothing Waste
  • Green Waste

Food Waste Management Grants

feed people, not landfills. We'd like to understand existing food recovery infrastructure in Oklahoma and support new and existing projects that aim to redirect edible food to people experiencing food insecurity, or that divert food from landfills by composting or feeding animals.

Reimbursable expenses include supplies, equipment, and technical support for school-food-share or community-food-recovery programs, and university research projects to define existing food recovery infrastructure.

Professional Services Grants

encourage environmental education, sustainability, beautification, litter-abatement, and more.

This grant category hosts more variety than the others. It is used for non-profits, multi-faceted projects, one-time clean-ups, and specialty solid waste management projects that do not fit into another category.

Coming Soon...

Sharps Management Grants

Check out our website for program details:

Funding Opportunities for Communities - Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality

Use tabs at the top to jump sections.

FY22 Highlights

In DEQ's fiscal year 2022, communities utilized over $1.7 million on solid waste management projects through this grant program.

In FY22, DEQ issued 47 total grants.

Click on the map to learn more.

However, not all projects fit onto a map...

Here are other entities that received a Solid Waste Management Grant in FY22.

Now for some project highlights from each grant category...

FY22 Environmental Officers

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20 Environmental Officer Programs were funded in FY22.

Click the arrow on the right to learn more.

1,057 dumps identified;

818 dumps cleaned;

772,284 pounds of trash cleaned;

4,316 tires picked up;

3,081 miles of road cleaned;

15 collection events held;

81 "no dumping" signs, fencing, and cameras installed;

and one news story on Cleveland County!

Environmental Officers recognize the value of social media.

Facebook pages and tip lines prove to be a valuable tool.

FY22 Equipment

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In FY22, eight communities received funding for solid waste management equipment.

Click the arrow on the right to learn more.

4 communities received grant funding for a chipper.

Oklahoma ice storms create a need for communities to own a chipper. However, chippers are also useful for keeping roadsides and power lines clear.

Chipper recipients are encouraged to divert their chips from the landfill and reuse them in their community. That may mean giving them away to residents or providing mulch to community gardens, roadsides, or park playgrounds.

"The Brush Chipper has been a huge blessing to our town..."

~ Kim Keller, Town of Olustee

"...from saving countless hours of labor in hauling off limbs, to water conservation and infrastructure safety..."

~ Kim Keller, Town of Olustee

"...We are so proud to have our new machine...

~ Kim Keller, Town of Olustee

"...we couldn't have done this without DEQ awarding the town of Olustee this grant."

~ Kim Keller, Town of Olustee

The City of Stillwater received funding for ten Big Belly receptacles for their historic downtown area.

Big Belly receptacles hold 5x the waste of a normal bin. They are solar-powered and sensor-equipped to communicate collection time.

Stillwater has collected 4,010 pounds of trash using these receptacles in their first 7 months.

They have solved issues of overflowing bins, blowing litter, strong smells, and visits from critters.

"The units allow the City of Stillwater to become more environmentally friendly and efficient..."

~Chris Knight, City of Stillwater

"...We would not have been able to purchase the units without the grant opportunity provided by DEQ.”

~Chris Knight, City of Stillwater

Funds for two balers, a trench burner, and a grapple loader were also granted in FY22.

FY22 Collection Events

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13 communities received funding for collection events in FY22. Overall, the program supported 21 events.

Click the arrow on the right to learn more.

$114,537.36 was expended directly toward collection events

97,827,808 lbs. of material were recovered in total.

5,097 tires were collected.

"The county-wide free dump event, made possible by a DEQ grant, will help reduce illegal dumping in Creek County."

~ Deputy Dean Wise, Creek County

"Our spring and fall cleanup has been a great success and it’s growing every time. I have people calling wanting to know when the next one will be."

~ Randy Thomas, Pottawatomie County Commissioner 

Citizens are always very appreciative of these events!

FY22 Food Waste Management

This is a new category in FY22.

Our Daily Bread

Food and Resource Center in Stillwater, OK

Click the arrow on the right to learn more.

Our Daily Bread

  • Food recovery
  • Grocery store
  • Meal deliveries
  • Pop-up market
  • Garden & Compost
  • Cooking classes

Our Daily Bread

Received an insulated trailer and industrial-sized coolers to safely transport food.

FY22 Professional Services

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Keep Oklahoma Beautiful

is active in all 77 counties!

In FY22, the DEQ grant supported KOB's Great American Cleanup, Paint Oklahoma Beautiful, Clean Communities program, tire collection program, and community workshops program.

The Sustainability Alliance

provides education, tools, and resources to inform and engage businesses and individuals in the three areas of sustainability:

People, Profit, and Planet

The Product Stewardship Institute

Spearheads the Oklahoma Meds and Sharps Disposal Committee

Oklahoma City Beautiful

works toward beautification and environmental stewardship in OKC.

In FY22, the DEQ grant supported OKCB's OKC Harvest, Mother Earth, LitterBlitz, Teen Board, Recycling Education/Cigarette Litter Prevention, and Grow OKC programs.

Oklahoma Cooperative Circuit Engineering Districts Board

Distributes additional funding to Oklahoma counties.

FY23 Highlights

In DEQ's fiscal year 2023, communities utilized over $1.8 million on solid waste management grant projects.

In FY23, DEQ issued 49 total grants.

However, not all projects fit onto a map.

Here are other entities that received a Solid Waste Management Grant in FY23

Now for some project highlights from each grant category...

FY23 Environmental Officers

01 / 06

14 Environmental Officer Programs were funded in FY23.

The program identified over 500 dumps

Cleaned over 440,000 pounds of trash

Cleaned over 1,300 tires

Cleaned over 2,450 miles of road;

Hosted 23 collection events;

FY23 Equipment

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14 communities received an Equipment Grant in FY23.

5 communities received a chipper, our most requested piece of equipment in the program.

Chipper recipients are encouraged to divert their chips from the landfill and reuse them in their community.

The City of Okmulgee and the City of McAlester upgraded their recycling programs with a forklift and a baler, respectively.

McAlester sold a total of 220 cardboard bales exceeding 120 tons and diverting over 240,000 lbs. from the landfill.

"By employing the baler, we have streamlined operations, saving valuable time, conserving fuel, minimizing vehicle wear and tear, and notably curbing emissions that contribute to environmental pollution."

~City of McAlester

Delaware County set roll-offs around town in popular dumping areas to successfully mitigate illegal dumping. Other communities are following suit.

Lawton set roll-offs at their landfill and have received and recycled over 33 tons of tires, 1,248 cans of paint, and collected over 3 tons of windblown litter with their roll-offs since January 2023.

The University of Oklahoma received Big Belly containers to manage the influx of waste seen on game days.

Modoc Nation installed a glass bunker.

"This is a much needed addition to our recycling efforts and we are so thankful that ODEQ has made this available.

~ Wes Davis, Modoc Nation

OCCC purchased a glass chipper to address the lack of glass recycling opportunities in the Oklahoma City area.

The crushed glass will be used by the Art department to create glass art and will be incorporated into concrete for pavers and planters on campus.

The ultimate goal is to create a replicable model for the adoption of other entities.

OCCC will host biannual glass recycling events open to the public.

FY23 Collection Events

01 / 07

10 communities received funding to host collection events in FY23.

The program supported 11 events and served 24 communities

Over 80,000 pounds of refuse recovered in total

53,172 lbs. of HHW

1,750 tires

43 pounds of unwanted pharmaceuticals

28,035 lbs. of E-Waste

FY23 Food Waste Management

01 / 06

University of Central Oklahoma

received a commercial composter, a refrigerator, and educational supplies to enhance their Bronco Bites program, which recovers wasted food from their main cafeteria into edible meals for hungry students and staff. Wasted food that cannot be recovered for consumption is composted.

Scissortail Park Foundation

composts their landscaping waste and office waste. They host educational seminars and tours on composting. They also host a "Take Some Leave Some" program for folks to bring their food scraps to the park in exchange for finished compost. The park applies their finished compost to their landscaping as well.

Oklahoma State University at Will Rogers Garden

composts their landscaping waste. They received a commercial vermicompost sifter and a cardboard shredder to enhance their compost output and their educational programs, including Master Gardener and Master Composter programs.

The City of Comanche

received a commercial composter for their community center, making it a zero-waste facility! The center includes a meal service program, a community garden for farm-to-table food options, as well as outdoor composting.

The Oklahoma Compost and Sustainability Association

educates Oklahomans on composting to encourage community‑wide efforts. They host community events, such as classes and workshops, and host an annual Compost Conference.

FY23 Professional Services

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Oklahoma Cooperative Circuit Engineering Districts Board

helps spread grant dollars across the state. In FY23 they funded 53 counties with chainsaws, chippers, roll-offs, and environmental officer expenses.

Product Stewardship Institute

continued their work on the Oklahoma Meds and Sharps Disposal Committee (OMSDC) by providing stipends to start sharps collection programs and by hosting an educational outreach campaign on the safe disposal of leftover medical pharmaceuticals and sharps.\

The Sustainability Alliance

engages their community in the three pillars of sustainability: People, Profit, and Planet. Their Scor3card program provides a roadmap toward sustainability for businesses.

KOB, the M.E.T. and OKCB all work in their communities toward environmental education, beautification, recycling, and litter-abatement.

Oklahoma Recycling Association

(OKRA) provides local and regional recycling education and community connections, including an annual conference.

FY24 Highlights

49 Oklahoma communities and non-profits utilized $2.1 million in Solid Waste Management Grant funding in FY24.

19 Environmental Officer Grants

Self-Reported Numbers Program-Wide:

463,600 pounds of trash picked up

2,488 miles of road cleaned

840 Dumps Identified

788 Dumps cleaned

2,370 tires picked up

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10 Equipment Grants

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6 Collection Events

Across events, 22 communities and 2,505 cars were served. 700,000 pounds of household hazardous waste (HHW) was collected, including 71,000 pounds of electronic waste, 1,542 tires, leftover pharmaceuticals, and used medical sharps.

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8 Professional Services Grants

Click on red boxes to follow links .

01 / 09

provides education, tools, and resources to inform and engage businesses and individuals in the three areas of sustainability: social responsibility, economic vitality, and environmental stewardship — people, profit, planet.

is active in all 77 counties.

Oklahoma Meds & Sharps Disposal Committee (OMSDC) is a group of stakeholders focused on a statewide solution for the safe disposal of medical sharps and pharmaceuticals in Oklahoma.

serves as a central communication point for exchange among businesses, industries, government entities, public and private organizations, schools, and citizens about recycling.

OKRA provides a forum for networking, an educational platform, encourages local end-markets, and creates a unified voice for Oklahoma Recyclers.

promotes environmental responsibility by developing, delivering and supporting environmental programs and services, and by educating citizens and member communities on sound environmental practices.

practices beautification and environmental stewardship through collaboration, education, and advocacy.

encourages citizen participation in beautification projects and litter clean-ups.

Hardesty Public Schools

Cleanup

Oklahoma Cooperative Circuit Engineering Districts

Pass-through grants

3 Food Waste Management Grants

Scissortail Park Foundation

Bring your food scraps to the Farmers Market and take home finished compost.

The park's green waste is composted with Fertile Grounds.

Oklahoma Compost & Sustainability Association (OCASA)

encourages community‑wide efforts towards sustainable solutions by promoting the production and use of compost to support a health environment.

University of Central Oklahoma

Bronco Bites is UCO's food recovery program dedicated to reducing food waste on campus & redistributing surplus food to those in need.

Leftover edible food from campus eateries is repackaged into compostable to-go containers and placed in a refrigerator. Students, staff, and faculty can view the refrigerator in real-time and are welcome to take a meal for free.

Inedible food is composted onsite using their commercial composter.

Testimonials

This grant program is important because it allows communities to bring their own concerns to the table. Community leaders, like council members, mayors, program directors, and volunteers know best what their community needs. This means a variety of projects tailored to each community.

"We could not do what we do without DEQ."

Oklahoma City Beautiful

"This piece of equipment has been a blessing to our city and one we are so very grateful for! Our city has NEVER had a piece of equipment like this and it would not have been possible without the grant funds provided. I cannot say enough, how thankful we are to have been granted the funds over the last few years and how much they have helped our small community."

City of Lexington

"We more than doubled our participation from last year's event. The grant provided a great opportunity to educate the public about best practices for disposal of hazardous household material. Without the grant, our community would not be able to host this event."

City of Newcastle

"Dead or damaged trees are used as firewood and now with this chipper we can also produce mulch and woodchips. These will be given to elderly and tribal members for cooking and producing heat during the cold season. Then, used in gardens in spring and summer."

Kaw Nation

Funding

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Where does funding for this program come from?

Solid Waste Disposal Fees

A fee of $1.25 is charged for every ton of material that enters a solid waste disposal facility. This fee is remitted back to DEQ to fund many programs, including the Solid Waste Management Grant Program.

The Oklahoma Computer Equipment Recovery Act (OCERA)

requires computer manufacturers to pay an annual fee of $1,000 or $5,000 to DEQ, which provides additional funding to support collection event grants that collect electronic waste.

Find out more about OCERA here:

27A O.S. § 2-10-802(C)

authorizes DEQ to expend funds and to enter into contracts with units of local government and political subdivisions for the purposes of administering the Oklahoma Solid Waste Management Act.

Funding is not guaranteed.

DEQ

Sustainable Materials Management