Questions and Answers: Beverage Container Redemption Innovation Grant Program (FYs 2022–23 and 2023–24)

Questions about the Beverage Container Redemption Innovation Grant Program grant application are accepted in writing only, no later than July 24, 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.

General | Eligibility | Certification | Eligible Projects | Funding | Application

General

  1. What does NTP mean in the RIG3 Program?
    NTP stands for Notice to Proceed. This terminology is specific to the RIG Program and separate from the certification process/approval from the Division of Recycling.  The grant term begins on the date of the NTP email.  This email is the formal notification from CalRecycle authorizing the grantee to begin the grant project and incur costs for the RIG project.  Expenditures made or costs incurred prior to the NTP date are not eligible for reimbursement.
  2. Under the grant award conditions, the grantee must pay all outstanding debts due to CalRecycle. Please provide examples of debts due to CalRecycle from certified recycling centers?  What other debts are typically due from recycling centers in the current program?
    An outstanding debt includes any payment(s) owed to CalRecycle.  This may include, but is not limited to, fines, violations, etc.  If an entity has received an invoice from CalRecycle for funds they owe to CalRecycle, and payment has not been received, that entity must remit payment to CalRecycle within 60 days of an award email, or the award will void.
  3. The grant period is through April 1, 2027. Does this mean that all grant funds need to be used/invoiced by that date?
    Yes, all costs must be incurred and equipment delivered prior to April 1, 2027.  The Redemption Innovation Grant Program is a reimbursement program.  A grantee will only be able to be reimbursed for authorized expenses made during the grant term.  Equipment must be purchased and delivered, and installed, if applicable, prior to the grant term end date.
  4. If my organization received a previous RIG award or Pilot Project award, can we apply for RIG3?
    If you are a current recycling center who has previously received grant funding from the Beverage Container Recycling Fund within the past five years, you may apply but the eligible project for RIG3 needs to be a different innovative method of redemption (i.e. RVM, Bag-drop, and Mobile) from what was previously funded.

Eligibility

  1. Can a Recycling Center apply for RIG3 and use the equipment as a Redemption Contractor for a Dealer Cooperative?
    No, equipment funded by RIG3 would not be eligible to be used for Dealer Cooperative related activities. Certified Recycling Centers are not able to operate in an unserved convenience zone where a Dealer Cooperative is present.
  2. Can a legal entity which holds two Recycling Center Certifications submit two separate applications for each Recycling Center?
    No, any and all subsidiaries, divisions or affiliated businesses are considered part of the primary business entity for the purpose of applying for and receiving a grant award under the program.   A business is considered an “affiliated business” if it has at least one owner with a forty (40) percent or greater interest in another applicant’s business.  Only one application per business entity will be considered.  If an applicant submits more than one application, it will be the applicant’s responsibility to decide which application should go forward.  If the additional application(s) are not withdrawn, all applications from that applicant will be disqualified.

Certification

  1. Do applicants need to be certified and operational before the Grant Agreement is executed?
    After an Applicant is awarded a grant, they will receive a Grant Agreement. The Grant Agreement needs to be signed by the Signature Authority and returned to CalRecycle no later than 60 days after receiving your notice of award.  Awardees must be certified before receiving the Notice to Proceed (NTP).  In addition, grantees must be operational within a designated time period, as stipulated in their Grant Agreement.

Eligible Projects

  1. If a Recycling Center serves a convenience zone that also includes overlap from neighboring convenience zones served by other Recycling Centers, would our Recycling Center be an eligible applicant?
    Yes, the Recycling Center would be eligible to apply for the Redemption Innovation Grant Program. However, the project locations must be within the areas of the zone solely served by the applicant, or within an unserved convenience zone or no zone area.  For additional information, please refer to the Eligibility Criteria and Evaluation Process for the Redemption Innovation Grant Program (Beverage Container Recycling Fund, Fiscal Years 2022–23, 2023-24 and 2024-25).
  2. Does opening a new recycling center that only does weigh-and-pay suffice as an eligible project type?
    No.  New recycling centers will be required to include one or more innovative methods of redemption (Mobile, Bag Drop, or RVM) to be considered eligible for funding.

Funding

No questions at this time.

Application

  1. Can the entire award amount be used for the same project type (e.g., all RVM)?
    Yes, an entire award amount may be utilized for the same project type or multiple different project types. All costs associated with the project must be included in the Budget document that is submitted with the application.