Questions about the Increased Recycling of Empty Glass Beverage Containers grant application are accepted in writing only, no later than November 5, 2025. Similar or related questions may be grouped together or reworded for clarity and responded to as one question.
All questions and answers will be posted during the application period and are subject to updates. It is the applicant’s responsibility to check this website for the latest information regarding this grant cycle.
The question-and-answer period is now closed. All questions and answers are posted on this site.
General | Eligibility | Funding | Application
General
- May we attach multiple vendor quotes to demonstrate competitive pricing, or must a single vendor be selected before submission?
Yes. Multiple vendor quotes are acceptable for eligible costs.
- Will a City Council Resolution authorizing the City Administrator (or designee) to sign grant documents satisfy the requirement for a Resolution or Letter of Commitment?
Yes. A City Council resolution authorizing a city administrator or designee to sign grant documents will satisfy CalRecycle’s grant authorization requirements. For specifics on Resolutions, please see the Application Guidelines and Instructions document page 18 under “Applicants Required Authorization Documents” “Note” section or refer to provided link https://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/Funding/SampleDocs.
- Is there a maximum file size or specific naming convention (for example, no commas or special characters) for document uploads in the Grants Management System (GMS)?
Yes. Files should not exceed 35 MB and must use standard characters. Document files cannot include special characters such as commas, dollar signs, asterisks, etc. Please refer to our Application Guidelines and Instructions document on page 11, under section “Documents Tab” for clarification.
- Please specify how the terms “Job Title”, “Name of Applicant” and “Designee” are defined.
“Job Title” refers to your job title. i.e.: Owner, CEO, Project Manager, etc. “Name of applicant” refers to the legal name of the entity that is legally responsible for grant administration, if awarded. “Designee” refers to your legally authorized signature authority or alternate signature authority who has been authorized to manage and oversee the grant as well as sign legally binding documents.
Eligibility
- We are a private transportation company that works with certified recycling organizations to haul recycled glass to a glass recycling facility, but we are not a Certified Recycling Center, Collection/Drop-Off (CP) Program, or Community Service (SP) Program ourselves. Are we eligible to apply?
No. Eligible applicants must be a Certified Recycling Center, Certified Collection/Drop-Off Program, or Certified Community Service Program.
- Can recycling bins located on the street-side in front of pool facilities (accessible to patrons and park users) qualify as eligible collection sites for this grant?
No. Pool facilities are not eligible collection sites under the grant program. This grant program is for the collection, consolidation and transportation of empty glass beverage containers from restaurants and on-sale retail licensed establishments to a glass processing facility.
- Can public recreation facilities qualify as “on-sale or adjacent” sites under grant eligibility?
No. Restaurants and on-sale retail licensed establishments must be licensed pursuant to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act (Division 9 (commencing with Section 23000) of the Business and Professions Code) to be eligible for this Program.
- Are dual-stream stations collecting both glass and plastic eligible if glass materials are kept separate and reported distinctly? How should diversion data be reported – by total weight or by separated material type?
Only the collection of empty glass beverage containers is eligible for collection. Dual collection is not eligible for this Program.
- Would replacing outdated water fountains with modern filtered refill stations that serve reusable bottles be considered an eligible expense when paired with a glass-recycling component?
No. Water refill stations are not an eligible cost. This grant program supports the collection, consolidation and transportation of empty glass beverage containers from restaurants and on-sale retail licensed establishments to glass processing facilities.
- Are projects required to include all three projects, the collection, consolidation, and transportation of empty glass beverage containers in order to be eligible? Or can entities participate in one of the three projects to qualify?
Yes. All three project requirements must be met to be an eligible project for the Program.
- Would glass recovery from Municipal Solid Waste processing qualify for this grant?
No. This grant program is for the collection of empty glass beverage containers from restaurants and on-sale retail license establishments. Glass recovery from municipal solid waste processing is not eligible.
- We are looking to purchase dedicated glass trailer equipment with a cart tipper. Does this count under the equipment and materials allowed to be covered under the grant funds?
Yes. Materials, supplies and vehicles that are purchased with grant funds and used for collection, consolidation and transportation of empty glass beverage containers are considered eligible costs.
- Please define “region” used in “regional pilot”. Does this need to be constrained to a specified geographic area (i.e. City, or County)? Can we work across multiple jurisdictions in a broader region like “Southern California” (i.e. Los Angeles County, Orange County and San Diego County)? What is the size of a geographical footprint that we should pursue in the pilot project?
All projects must be located within California and can service multiple locations in a jurisdiction.
- We are not currently a Certified Recycling Center, Certified Collection/Drop-Off (CP) Program, or Certified Community Service (SP) Program, but we do operate as a private entity focused on glass recovery and reuse. Are we eligible?
No. A private for-profit entity offering services must still be either a Certified Recycling Center, Certified Collection/Drop-Off Program or a Certified Community Service Program.
- If an entity has applied and is awarded other CalRecycle grant funding to operate a Bag Drop Recycling Center as a certified Recycling Center, is this entity eligible to apply for the Increased Recycling of Empty Glass Beverage Containers Grant Program Cycle 2 to operate as a certified Collection Program as long as each program operates independent of one another? In brief, is one entity eligible to operate two separate grant projects simultaneously?
Yes. An entity that has received funding under another CalRecycle grant program, is eligible to apply for this program as long as each project is separate, distinct, and independently operated. As long as the following conditions are met, the entity may operate more than one CalRecycle-funded project concurrently. However, other funding received from CalRecycle is not eligible to be used as a match for this grant program.
- As an individual applicant, how do we determine which resolution template to use (option 1 vs option 2)?
The individual resolution template includes two options. Option 1 authorizes the submittal of an application for all grant programs offered by CalRecycle. Option 2 authorizes the submittal of an application for a specific CalRecycle grant program. It is the individual applicant’s choice to select which template option to select.
- In what case would an individual application be subject to a governing body and board approval to legally bind the applicant?
If an applicant is subject to the decision-making power of a governing body, such as a board of directors or city council, they must submit a resolution from that body giving the applicant permission to apply for the grant and accept the grant award. If not subject to a governing body or if board approval is not required to legally bind the applicant, applicant must submit a Letter of Commitment. See page 19 in the Application Guidelines and Instructions for additional information.
- When filling in the provided documents as part of the application, is the limit of “Each section’s response cannot exceed 2,500 characters” apply to each sub section where a response can be pasted in? Or does this apply to each of the main sections and character limit must be divided between each of the sub responses (Project Description, Project Readiness and Viability, Budget, Work Plan)?
Each section of the narrative has a character limit of 2,500 characters.
Funding
- Can this grant fund project costs upfront, or is it strictly reimbursement-based? If reimbursement-based, is there an option for advance payment or partial advance disbursement for local applicants with limited budgets?
This program is reimbursement-based. CalRecycle does allow an advance of 25% of the grant award for nonprofit organizations and qualifying tribal entities only.
- May locally dedicated sustainability funds be used toward the City’s match?
Yes. This grant program requires a dollar-for-dollar match that must come from new or additional funding sources dedicated specifically to the grant project. Other funding received from CalRecycle is not eligible to be used as a match for this grant.
- Is there a desired percentage of the combination of cash match, in-kind, cost share? 50% cash requirement?
There is no desired percentage requirement; however, the applicant must provide a match equal to or greater than the total grant amount requested.
- What kinds of expenses could be used as match? What documentation would you need?
This grant program requires a dollar-for-dollar match that must come from new or additional funding sources dedicated specifically to the grant project. These funding sources can be cash or in-kind. An in-kind match is a non-cash contribution of goods or services that directly supports the grant project.
Examples of match costs may include supplies and materials for collecting empty glass beverage containers, bins, vehicles or trucks to support glass, transportation of empty glass beverage containers to a processing facility, and personnel costs directly related to the grant project.
At the conclusion of the project, grantees are required to submit a match form certifying the match dollars used for the grant project. Grantees are responsible for maintaining records and supporting documentation pertaining match for a minimum of three years after the final payment date or Grant Term end date, whichever is later.
- Does the match have to be available at the time the application is turned in?
No. The match does not need to be available at the time of application submission but needs to occur during the grant term.
Application
- The City’s Public Works Department assists with installation and hauling. Should Public Works be listed as co-participants under a Regional or Cooperative application, or may the city apply independently?
The city must apply independently. In order for an entity to be eligible, the entity must also be a Certified Recycling Center, Certified Collection/Drop-Off Program or a Certified Community Service Program.
- Are material-flow and business-flow charts acceptable in PDF or Word format for upload before submission?
Yes. Both PDF and Word formats are acceptable for upload.