Questions and Answers: Organics Grant Program (FY 2021-22 and 2022-23)

Questions about the Organics Grant Program grant application were accepted in writing only, no later than March 23, 2023. Similar or related questions were grouped together or reworded for clarity and responded to as one question.

The question and answer period is now closed for this grant cycle. All questions and answers have been posted.

General | Eligibility | Funding | Application | Greenhouse Gas Calculation

General

  1. Where are the priority population and other application document forms to complete the grant application? 

Please sign into the Grant Management System (GMS) for access to the application documents including the Priority Population Benefits Worksheet.  The link to GMS is on the Notice of Funds Available (NOFA) webpage.

  1. Are all administration costs considered indirect costs and subject to the five percent limit? Example: Is the administrative work specific to managing the deliverables on this grant an indirect cost?

Administration costs are considered indirect costs, and include operating and maintaining facilities, accounting services, and administrative salaries.  These costs are limited to the five percent cap of the total amount requested. CalRecycle grant administration, such as quarterly reporting and grant payment requests are considered direct costs and should be included in the Personnel budget category.  Design and engineering costs are not indirect costs but are limited to a separate five percent cap of the total amount requested.  For more information, please refer to the page seven in the Procedures and Requirements located on the Notice of Funds Available webpage.

  1. Are applicants able to submit two applications for two different composting facilities?

Only two applications per qualifying entity will be accepted. Each application must be for a different site. Eligible applicants may submit an individual or cooperative application. For a cooperative application, one entity must be identified as the Lead Participant to act on behalf of the participating jurisdictions/entities. Lead Participants and participating jurisdictions/entities are subject to the two-application rule. If more than two applications are submitted by an applicant, it will be the applicant’s responsibility to decide which applications should go forward. If the additional application(s) are not withdrawn, the first two applications, as determined by timestamp, will move forward and all other applications will be disqualified.

  1. Can we use the May 11th deadline for Community Benefits Agreements, or will these be subject to the April 20th deadline?

As detailed on page 21 in the Application Guidelines and Instructions, Community Benefits Guidance section, a Community Benefits Agreement is not required for application submittal but is required in order to be eligible for five bonus points. The fully executed agreement must be submitted by the secondary due date, which is May 11, 2023, or it will not be accepted.

  1. What is “stand alone” in reference to the pre-processing facility?

Stand-alone pre-processing projects are projects that remove contaminants from food waste and/or green waste feedstock prior to composting or digestion, that are not co-located at a composting or an anaerobic digestion facility. For example, a Stand-Alone Pre-Processing project may include the installation of food waste pre-processing equipment at a Materials Recovery Facility that will remove contaminants from food waste feedstock before it is transported to another facility for composting or anaerobic digestion. Pre-processing equipment and projects that are co-located at a composting or anaerobic digestion facility (i.e., are not “stand-alone”) should apply through the appropriate project type where the pre-processing project will be co-located: Anaerobic Digestion/Co-Digestion, Composting, or In-Vessel Composting. Refer to page eight in the Available Funds section of the Application Guidelines and Instructions.

  1. For Cooperative Applications, can we apply for the $13 million for our composting project only?

No. Grant applications are eligible for up to $13 million if the project in a Cooperative Application (two or more eligible entities applying together) includes an Anaerobic Digestion/Co-Digestion project and a Stand-Alone Pre-Processing project or Composting project and a Stand-Alone Pre-Processing project. Grant-funded Equipment/Infrastructure must be identified at all locations. If grant-funded Equipment/Infrastructure is only needed at the composting facility, a Cooperative Application is not needed and the project will be eligible for up to $10 million as a Composting Project.

  1. What is considered a legally binding, “long-term commitment” in reference to Facilities on Non-Owned Property?

Applicants that want to establish facilities or expand existing facilities on property not owned by the applicant must provide a copy of the long-term lease evidencing the applicant’s commitment to utilize the facility for the purpose set forth in the grant and its commitment to utilize the facility as described in the application for life of facility.

  1. Where is the Community Benefits Worksheet located?

The Priority Populations Benefits Worksheet can be accessed through the Grant Management System (GMS).  It is located in the Summary Tab in the box labeled Application Documents, file name: ORG7 Priority Populations Benefits Worksheet-Locked.docx.

  1. The primary and secondary contact must be “authorized”.  Is any kind of formal authorization required? 

No formal authorization documentation needs to be provided for the primary and secondary contacts at the time of application.  It is the applicant’s responsibility to determine who are the primary and secondary contacts for grant project communication and quarterly reporting with CalRecycle.  The Signature Authority contact requires official documentation submitted with the application, see Application Guidelines and Instructions for more information.

  1. Are diversion and emissions reductions based on the projected lifetime of the project or what is diverted/reduced during the grant term?  For example, if construction is completed and the project is operational by the end of the grant term, but that leaves only a month or two within the short grant term to realize actual diversion and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions, will the application be penalized in the scoring?  Or is the project analyzed and scored on the diversion and emissions reductions over the lifetime

As described in the Scoring Assessment document in Grant Management System (GMS), which outlines how the application package will be scored, applications will be ranked and scored by the amount of GHG emission reductions to be achieved during the first ten years following grant award, as reported and verified by CalRecycle in the California Air Resources Board (CARB) Benefits Calculator Tool (or alternative quantification methodology, if approved).  In addition, applications will be evaluated on the description of green and/or food material that will be composted or digested as a result of the proposed project and the projected timeline for the proposed project to be operating at full capacity, including any ramp up.  Applicants will also be asked to quantify the GHG emission reductions that will be achieved annually within and beyond the Grant Term, and for the expected life of the project.  Unless an alternative quantification methodology has been approved, the Applicant shall use the CARB Benefits Calculator Tool.

  1. The Grant Term used to be a full three years and seems to be about 2.5 years now.  Why has it been shortened?  Is there any way to extend it?  

CalRecycle establishes the grant terms within the spending authority stated in the California State Budget.

  1. California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requirements must be completed within six months of the notice of award.  Are there other timelines or requirements for other permits?  Is there a timeline or other requirement for when all permitting must be completed? 

Yes, all permits must be completed within the grant term in order to complete the grant project by the grant term end date.

  1. Is it possible to get an extension to submit the feedstock letter of intent (LOI)?

No.  The Letter of Intent (LOI), in addition to the Feedstock Certification Form or Feedstock Commitment Letters, is due on the application due date, April 20, 2023.  The LOI is only required for stand-alone pre-processing project applications, when the lead applicant is not the same entity, that will compost or digest the pre-processed material.

  1. Our proposed facility is about to be released for bid so there are several unknown variables that will likely not be resolved prior to the application deadline.  Is it possible to get an extension?  Can you provide details for other similar CalRecycle funding opportunities that may fit within our project timeline (operations to start around summer 2024)?

No extensions are granted for the submission of applications past the due date.  However, CalRecycle has other waste diversion grant programs and a greenhouse gas reduction loan program that you may consider.  Refer to the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Grant and Loan Programs webpage. Notification of any future grant solicitations will be announced through the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Grant Programs Listserv.

  1. We are the hauler for several jurisdictions and operate a High Diversion Material Recovery Facility (HDMRF) and potential composting site.  Would the Feedstock Certification Form be completed by the jurisdiction in which we collected, processed, and composted their organic material?

The Feedstock Certification Form would be signed by the hauler in this scenario.  The Feedstock Certification Form must be completed by each feedstock supplier (e.g., processor, contractor, or hauler) who will provide feedstock for the proposed project.  Applicants who are their own feedstock supplier are still subject to this requirement.  The hauler completes and signs the form to certify that the feedstock provided is California-generated waste that would otherwise go to landfill if not for the CalRecycle grant project.

  1. If a county is a member agency of a Joint Powers Authority (JPA), can the JPA and the county each submit an application?  If so, will this count as the two applications from the qualifying entity (the county)?  For the multiple member agencies, would each agency only be able to submit one application, and the JPA would count as the second application for all of them?

A Joint Powers Authority (JPA) may submit a grant application as an individual applicant.  An entity (i.e., county, etc.) may not submit an individual application if that entity is also a member of an applicant JPA.  In addition to the requirements for an Individual Application, a JPA must upload a copy of its JPA Agreement.

  1. Does this organics grant require all equipment purchased to follow similar requirements as the Federal Build America, Buy America requirements or can the equipment be procured from anywhere?

No, equipment for the Organics Grant Program is not limited to products made in the United States of America and can be procured anywhere.  Refer to the Eligible Cost section of the Procedures and Requirements for more information regarding reimbursement of eligible costs.

  1. Are public school districts eligible to submit an application for this grant?  We are associated with a priority population according to the online mapping tool.

No, public school districts are not eligible to apply for this grant program.  Eligible education institutions that can apply include University of California campuses, California State University campuses, or California Community Colleges campuses.

  1. Is a cooperative application only applicable for projects incorporating stand-alone pre-processing projects?

No.  A Cooperative Application is one in which two or more eligible entities join together for the purpose of grant implementation.

  1. Can in-vessel composting technologies be included in a cooperative application and submitted under the larger composting project awards, instead of an in-vessel composting project award?

Yes.  Cooperative applications may include in-vessel composting technologies.  In-vessel composting projects may opt to compete with larger composting projects or with other in-vessel projects.  Applicants must select the project type when submitting the application.  CalRecycle developed the separate category for in-vessel projects because they are typically smaller operations that would not result in the quantity of diversion and greenhouse gas emission reductions to be competitive with larger projects.

  1. Are contractors, grant contacts, and project partners considered participants in the grant?  Can you clarify the distinction between performing a task on the work plan as a vendor/contractor and the relationship as a participant in the grant in relation to the requirement that a qualifying entity can only be included in two applications?

No, individuals and contractors are not considered official grant participants.  Official grant participants are entities that receive grant funded equipment and materials for the operation of a grant project.  Contractors who assemble or install the grant funded equipment, grant contacts, or consultants who work on administering the grant activities are not considered participants.

  1. If any agency pursuing an Organics Grant Program grant must have or will adopt an Environmental Purchasing Policy (EPP) by May 11, 2023, would that policy need to apply to all Agency activities (from administration to the project); could it be specific to the project or if the proposed project (for which funding is pursued) is part of a larger project – could the policy only need to apply to the project that is funded?

An Environmentally Preferable Purchasing and Practices Policy is required for the entire organization, not solely the project site.  Refer to page 10 of the Application Guidelines and Instructions for additional information.

  1. Is the Organics Grant Program (ORG7) and the SB 1383 organics grant program the same thing?

No.  The SB 1383 Local Assistance Grant Program is a non-competitive grant program intended to assist local jurisdictions in the implementation of regulation requirements associated with SB 1383.  For more information, refer to the SB1383 Local Assistance Grant Program webpage.

  1. How can a waste hauler provide a Letter of Support (LOS) if they are mandated to do this already under SB 1383? How will they claim “newly diverted” materials are currently being landfilled or used as Alternate Daily Cover (ADC) will instead be diverted as a result of this project, when in fact they were supposed to be doing so since Jan 1, 2022? The solicitation does not clarify, and we are afraid we won’t get any LOS as the haulers would be afraid to admit anything is not already conforming to the law. The issue is a lot of organic material targeted by SB 1383 was destined for landfill before the regulations went into effect January 1, 2022. Processing capacity for that organic material is still insufficient in California, so a lot of it is still going to landfill. Is this an eligible feedstock regardless of what bin it is collected in? Is it also still an eligible feedstock if it was going to landfill prior to the implementation of SB 1383 and the project proposes increased processing capacity to recover more SB 1383 material?

Letters of Support are optional and are not required from haulers. Applicants that claim to provide a benefit to priority populations will need to provide supporting documentation demonstrating how the project meets the criteria. Applicants may include LOS or endorsements from residents, neighbors, local environmental justice groups, etc.

This grant program is focused on diverting green material and food scraps that are currently being landfilled in California. Materials that are currently being diverted from landfills are not eligible feedstocks. As such, applicants must provide documentation from haulers certifying that the feedstock associated with the project is not currently being landfilled. This certification can be in the form of a Feedstock Certification Form (CalRecycle 778-GHG) or Feedstock Certification Letter, as described in the Guidelines and Instructions. Green material and food scraps that are co-collected with mixed municipal solid waste (MSW), and subsequently separated from MSW prior to composting or digestion, are eligible feedstocks.

CalRecycle recognizes that there is insufficient processing capacity to divert all organic waste that is generated in California, and not all jurisdictions currently have sufficient collection programs in place for all organic waste generators. Further, SB 1383 does not set specific numeric diversion goals for individual jurisdictions, generators, or

  1. Some facilities are located outside of California, and logistically, it makes sense for material to be transported out of State for composting or disposal. Can a project still be eligible for grant funding if material is taken out of California for recovery, or if material is recovered that may have gone to a landfill outside of California?

No, the grant project must be located in California (i.e., green materials and/or food materials must be composted or digested in California). Under certain conditions, the green and/or food waste may be diverted from a landfill outside of California, but the project feedstock must be California-generated waste.

  1. One of the listed requirements for Joint Powers Authority (JPA) applications is that the “JPA Agreement must give authority over solid waste management.” (page 7 in Application Guidelines And Instructions). We are a JPA that treats municipal wastewater and has anaerobic digestion facilities for wastewater solids that could be used for co-digestion of food-waste organics, and we are also a recipient of a previous CalRecycle grant. Solid waste management is not within the purview of our organization. Please remove this requirement from the application as it would disqualify agencies that do not manage solid waste.

JPA applicants will need their JPA Agreement to give them authority over the type of waste that is appropriate for the particular project type for which they are applying.

  1. Our county has a grant from an earlier cycle of the program, which has not been used yet because the project has been postponed. Can we apply for the current Cycle 7 as well or instead? It seems like the grant awards are much higher than before. Can the County apply for the new round of Organics grant funding even though it was previously awarded?

Applicants that have previously received an Organics grant to fund a project are eligible to apply for this grant cycle provided the project meets the criteria and the previously funded project is progressing in a manner satisfactory to CalRecycle. The application budget must not include grant-funded project components funded by another CalRecycle grant or loan. The application and funding must be for separate project components (including separate diverted tonnage) than the project previously funded by another CalRecycle grant or loan.

Current grantees of a CalRecycle Organics grant with an active agreement in place should not apply for this funding in lieu of their existing funding for the same project.

  1. We are a green waste composting facility currently processing about 20,000 cubic yards of clean green material, woody biomass and livestock manures to compost and mulch annually. We would like to upgrade our facility and equipment to increase our capacity by 50-100 percent to accommodate increasing community demand for both organics disposal and compost/mulch. Most of our equipment has reached the end of its useful life, so we would like to include equipment purchases and site upgrades (including pad hardening and leachate catchment) in our proposal. We have seen a steady increase in volume of material reaching our site over the past 10 years, and this has significantly increased over the past 4 years as fire fuel reduction efforts have increased in our region. We have no way of confirming that the increase in processing volume would enable our project to specifically engage materials otherwise bound for landfill disposal, although other composters in our region appear to have reached capacity, suggesting the bulk of the material would be landfilled. This makes filling out the Feedstock Certification form difficult, as we receive materials from multiple sources, including self-haulers, multiple tree companies, County Department of Public works, etc.

To be eligible for grant funding, projects must facilitate or result in an increase in the quantity of green materials and/or food materials newly diverted from landfill disposal or Alternative Daily Cover (ADC). The Feedstock Certification Form(s) or Feedstock Commitment Letter(s) are required application documents and must certify that the California generated green materials and/or food materials to be supplied to the project are currently disposed of or used as ADC at a landfill.

  1. Our company sells and delivers biofuels around the area and is currently doing the groundwork to produce fuel from waste. We are applying for the Organics Grant Program with the hopes of receiving funding to develop an anaerobic digestion plant to make compost and renewable natural gas (RNG). The project requirements state that projects must result in an increase in the tons of green/food materials diverted from landfill disposal.  Does CalRecycle have access to a list of landfills not currently diverting all green and/or food materials from landfill disposal. Additionally, we found a CalRecycle document about landfill tipping fees in California from 2015. We are wondering if CalRecycle has a more current document that we could access?

No. CalRecycle does not have access to information about which landfills are not currently diverting all green and/or food materials. However, the Recycling and Disposal Reporting Systemhas information about which landfills use green material as Alternative Daily Cover. CalRecycle has not updated the landfill tipping fees report since 2015. CalRecycle recommends the applicant reach out to landfills, haulers, and jurisdictions directly to determine availability of eligible feedstocks.

  1. What is the penalty if the volumes established in the “projected organic material and business flow chart” are not met?

Diversion estimates must be close to the anticipated amounts when the grant project is completed. If it is determined by CalRecycle from the Critical Project Review as stated in the Procedures and Requirements (Exhibit B) that, at that time, the grant project is not meeting, and is unlikely to meet, certain milestones, CalRecycle shall have the right to terminate the Grant Agreement pursuant to the Terms and Conditions (Exhibit A) of the Grant Agreement. If the grant is not terminated, at closeout the project will be evaluated to determine if it’s met the requirements of the agreement before approving release of the 10 percent withhold of the total payment. If the grant is terminated or CalRecycle withholds the 10 percent, this may jeopardize future grant awards.

  1. Can a lead participant be a private composting technology manufacturer and use grant funds to provide the composting technology to other eligible private entities as co-participants in a collective grant? In this scenario, the composting technology would be located on the co-participants property, and they would operate the unit and the funding would be provided to the technology vendor. Or should the private entities where the technology is located be the lead participants in the grant and have the grant money distributed to them for the purchase of the composting technology? If the second option is preferred, does the composting technology company count as a participant on each lead participants grant application? Does the restriction of two applications for qualifying entity apply if the vendor is a technology provider and receives money from the lead participant to purchase composting technology?

The scenario described may most appropriately be handled through an Individual Application, in which the entity that will own and operate the composting facility is the applicant and the composting technology manufacturer is not a participant in the grant. Applications should not include technology and equipment providers, contractors, consultants, etc. as Non-Lead Participants in a Cooperative Application, but they should be included in the grant budget.

  1. Please better define what is meant by “in-vessel” systems? For example, would an aerated static pile site design in shipping containers qualify for in-vessel project funding?

For the CalRecycle Organics Grant Program, refer to the regulatory definition of “within-vessel composting process” cited in 14 CFR, Division 7, Ch 3.1, Section 17852. “Within-vessel composting process” is defined as, an aerobic process in which compostable material is enclosed in a drum, silo, bin, tunnel, reactor, or other container for the purpose of producing compost, maintained under uniform conditions of temperature and moisture where airborne emissions are controlled. To further clarify, Section 17852 also defines “Enclosed Composting Process” as a composting process where the area that is used for the processing, composting, stabilizing, and curing of organic materials, is covered on all exposed sides and rests on a stable surface with environmental controls for moisture and air-borne emissions present. Composting projects that do not fit within the definition of within-vessel composting may consider applying for funding through the Composting project type.

  1. Can you give more examples of eligible indirect costs?

Indirect costs are expenditures not capable of being assigned or not readily itemized to a particular project or activity but considered necessary for the operation of the organization and the performance of the program.

Examples of eligible indirect costs include accounting services, utility costs, costs of operating and maintaining facilities, administrative salaries (management not directly working on the grant project), and personnel costs associated with supervision. Refer to the Indirect Costs section of the Procedures and Requirements for further information on personnel costs.

Please note that the total combined costs for permitting, public education/outreach, indirect costs, and salaries not related to construction or installation shall not exceed five percent of the total grant award.

  1. If permitting offices are not responsive to documentation requests, will consideration be given to extending the application due date for these documents? Could final documentation be provided by the second deadline?

No. Please submit a copy of your request to demonstrate that you have engaged with the permitting entity and any supporting documentation you have regarding the permit status to support your responses in the Permits document.

  1. Does the definition of participating jurisdictions/entities who are subject to the two-application rule include equipment vendors?

Equipment vendors are not considered participating jurisdictions/entities. Official grant participants are entities that receive grant-funded equipment and materials for the operation of a grant project. Equipment vendors should be referenced in the Budget, Narrative Proposal, and other grant documents as applicable.

  1. Can you clarify allowable costs beyond the purchase of the equipment? Is it correct that we will be able to reclaim all significant costs of the project, including permitting, delivery, installation, and project manager/contractor work (e.g., site plans, prep and build out, consultants for permitting)? Would the carbon source (e.g., wood chips) be included in a cost that would be eligible for grant funding?

All grant expenditures must be for activities, products, and costs specifically included in the approved Work Plan and approved Budget. Allowable costs beyond the purchase of the equipment include indirect costs, such as those mentioned in the question. Indirect costs are reimbursable if they are in the approved Budget. Combined costs for permitting, public education/outreach, indirect costs, and salaries not related to construction or installation cannot exceed five percent of the total requested grant amount. Design and engineering costs cannot exceed five percent of the total grant amount requested.

Collection/delivery/purchase of organic feedstock, including wood chips, is ineligible. Refer to the Eligible Costs, Indirect Costs, and Ineligible Costs sections in the Procedures and Requirements.

  1. Can you define who is considered a Feedstock Supplier? As a food bank, we receive food donations from a variety of sources. Would we need to provide a form for all of the suppliers? Would we then be considered our own Feedstock supplier?

Feedstock suppliers (e.g., processor, contractor, or hauler) are the entities who will supply California-generated food or green waste to the grant project that would have otherwise gone to landfill or Alternative Daily Cover (ADC). The feedstock supplier either generates or has rights to the waste that will be provided to the grant project. The feedstock suppliers must complete the Feedstock Certification Form or submit a Feedstock Commitment Letter to certify under penalty of perjury that the feedstock is newly diverted food or green waste.

Food donations to food banks to feed people are not newly diverted California generated food or green waste, and therefore are not eligible feedstocks for grant funding. However, if the donated food becomes food waste and is currently sent for landfill disposal, that material is an eligible feedstock for a composting or digestion operation. If the composting or digestion operation is part of the food bank, the grantee could self-certify the Feedstock Certification Form to supply food waste to the composting or digestion project.

Eligibility

  1. What types of food materials are eligible feedstocks for this program? Is any type of meat eligible?

Please refer to the regulatory definition of “food material” from 14 CFR, Division 7, Chapter 3.1 Section 17852.

(20) “Food Material” means a waste material of plant or animal origin that results from the preparation or processing of food for animal or human consumption and that is separated from the municipal solid waste stream.  Food material includes, but is not limited to, food waste from food facilities as defined in Health and Safety Code section 113789 (such as restaurants), food processing establishments as defined in Health and Safety Code section 111955, grocery stores, institutional cafeterias (such as prisons, schools, and hospitals), and residential food scrap collection.  Food material does not include any material that is required to be handled only pursuant to the California Food and Agricultural Code and regulations adopted pursuant thereto.

Projects must facilitate or result in new diversion of green or food materials, from landfill disposal or use as Alternative Daily Cover (ADC), to composting or anaerobic digestion.  Food material feedstocks may count towards the quantity of tons diverted and GHG emissions reduced if they are newly diverted from landfill and subsequently composted or digested.

  1. Are grants available for using biosolids in landfills as alternative daily cover?

No.  Biosolids are not an eligible feedstock.  Eligible projects shall divert California generated food and/or green waste from landfill disposal or alternative daily cover (ADC) use.  The material shall be digested, composted, or pre-processed for digestion or composting.  Please refer to page seven of the Application Guidelines and Instructions, located on the Notice of Funds Available webpage.

  1. If a city does not have a landfill and the closest California landfill is over 200 miles away, can an applicant that diverts material from a landfill outside of the State of California still apply?

Yes, under certain conditions.  The green and/or food waste may be diverted from a landfill outside of California, but the waste must be generated in California.  The grant project must also be located in California.

  1. Is a project that proposes converting organic materials through a clean pyrolysis process to produce energy and/or by-products, eligible for this grant program?

No.  Eligible projects are the construction, renovation, or expansion of facilities to increase in-state infrastructure for the composting or digestion of green and/or food waste, or the pre-processing of green and/or food waste that is composted or digested.

  1. Would diverting food/green waste from the landfill in order to feed people in need qualify as a project for this program?

No.  Eligible projects are the construction, renovation, or expansion of facilities to increase in-state infrastructure for the composting, digestion, or pre-processing for composting or digestion, of newly diverted green and/or food waste.

You may be interested in the Edible Food Recovery Grant Program. Please sign up for the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Program Listserv to receive notices of future funding opportunities.

  1. The solicitation does not specifically mention sewage sludge / wastewater biosolids. In what instances is sewage sludge / biosolids an eligible feedstock?  What if it is currently being used as alternative daily cover?  What if it is being currently landfilled?  What if it is being disposed of in another manner?

Eligible projects are the construction, renovation, or expansion of facilities to increase in-state infrastructure for the composting or digestion of green materials or food materials that would otherwise go to landfill disposal or use as alternate daily cover (ADC).  For CalRecycle’s Organics Grant Program, please refer to the regulatory definitions of “food material” and “green material” in 14 CFR, Division 7, Chapter 3.1 Section 17852. Green material as defined does not include biosolids.  As such, projects which compost or digest only sewage sludge and biosolids are not eligible.

  1. Can individual state institutions submit applications for a grant?

Any State agency (including offices, departments, bureaus, and boards) and any University of California campuses, California State University campuses, or California Community Colleges campuses are eligible to submit a grant application. For more information, refer to page 5 of the Application Guidelines and Instructions.

  1. The project requirements in the guidelines state that projects must result in an increase in the tons of green/food materials diverted from landfill disposal. Currently, the city and county are composting their green waste.  Can we apply for the grant to digest material that is currently being composted?

No. The project must process California-generated food or green waste that would otherwise be disposed in a landfill or used as alternative daily cover (ADC). However, you may apply for an anaerobic digestion project if the project will process material that is newly diverted from landfill disposal or ADC use.  For purposes of this program, “newly diverted” means the materials that are currently being landfilled or used as ADC that will instead be diverted as a result of this project.

  1. What is the definition of Source Reduction of Food Waste in the Food tab in the Benefits Calculator Tool? Would product destruction be considered for that? If it does, would the liquid products count as well?

Source reduction of food waste are activities that reduce the amount of food from being generated and becoming waste. Activities include use of software that better estimates retailers’ and restaurants need for ordering food products.

Destruction of packaged foods is not source reduction because the product is already made. The purpose of this grant program is to fund infrastructure for composting, digestion, or pre-processing for composting or digestion, and as such, source reduction is not an eligible activity for this grant program.

The Benefits Calculator Tool was developed for multiple CalRecycle grant programs, including the Food Waste Prevention and Rescue Grant Program, and as such, contains tabs that are pertinent to different programs. For the Organics Grant Program, applicants need only complete the tabs in the Benefits Calculator Tool that relate to the grant-funded activity that will recycle food waste and/or green waste: Compost, Standalone AD, or Co-Digestion.

  1. Can a current Organics Grant Program grantee apply for this cycle?

Yes. As stated on page 6 of the Application Guidelines and Instructions, applicants that have previously received an Organics grant to fund a project are eligible to apply for this grant cycle provided the project meets the criteria and the previously funded project is progressing in a manner satisfactory to CalRecycle. The application budget must not include grant-funded project components funded by another CalRecycle grant or loan.

  1. A school district is participating in an organic waste program and has incurred additional cost for waste products and services. Can a school district apply for a grant to fund this type of equipment and services?

No. School districts are not eligible to apply for this grant program. In addition, eligible grant projects are the construction, renovation, or expansion of facilities to increase in-state infrastructure for the composting or digestion of food or green waste into compost, soil amendments, fertilizers, biofuels, or bioenergy or to increase in-state infrastructure for the pre-processing of food or green waste for composting or digestion. Also, costs to be paid by grant funds must be incurred during the grant period.

  1. Is a project eligible if it processes organic material into a soil amendment used for land application?

Yes, provided all grant criteria are met. Eligible projects must divert California generated food and/or green waste from landfill disposal or alternative daily cover (ADC) use. Production of eligible soil amendments must result from composting or digestion.

  1. A local restaurant will be opening a farm with onsite aerated composting capabilities. The facility will compost organic waste using a 3-chamber, forced-air composting system and the finished product will be used on the farm. The facility will likely have less than 100 cubic yards of organics materials in various states of decomposition. The facility would also accept small volumes of organic waste from local residents and a nearby farmers market. Would such a facility be eligible to receive grant funding through this cycle?

A project that processes California-generated food material and/or green material that would otherwise be landfilled or used as Alternate Daily Cover is eligible. Projects that compost food material and/or green material with in-vessel composting technologies may be eligible for funding through the In-Vessel Composting project type. For more information on eligibility, such as applicant eligibility, project eligibility and requirements, and project types, please refer to pages five through eight of the Application Guidelines and Instructions.

  1. We are a green waste composting facility currently processing about 20,000 cubic yards of clean green material, woody biomass and livestock manures to compost and mulch annually. We would like to upgrade our facility and equipment to increase our capacity by 50-100 percent to accommodate increasing community demand for both organics disposal and compost/mulch. Most of our equipment has reached the end of its useful life, so we would like to include equipment purchases and site upgrades (include pad hardening and leachate catchment) in our proposal. Please advise if this grant opportunity is appropriate for our purposes.

Eligible grant projects are the construction, renovation, or expansion of facilities to increase in-state infrastructure for the composting or digestion of food or green materials into compost, soil amendments, fertilizers, biofuels, or bioenergy. Grant funds can be used to purchase composting or digestion equipment to increase capacity for California generated food and/or green materials that would otherwise go to landfill disposal or Alternate Daily Cover. Projects which compost or digest non-landfill-diverted organics, such as livestock manure, are not eligible unless the project is also digesting or composting eligible landfill-diverted food or green materials.

  1. Are Materials Recovery Facilities (MRF) fines an eligible feedstock?

No.  MRF fines and other residual material are not eligible feedstocks.  Only green materials and food materials that are currently being landfilled are eligible feedstocks.  For CalRecycle’s Organics Grant Program, refer to the regulatory definitions of “food material” and “green material” in 14 CFR, Division 7, Chapter 3.1 Section 17852.

  1. Is newly diverted SB 1383 material an eligible feedstock for this grant?  For example, food waste that had previously been collected in the black bin and is now in the green bin as a result of SB 1383.

Projects must facilitate or result in new diversion of green or food materials, from landfill disposal or use as Alternative Daily Cover (ADC), to composting or anaerobic digestion.  Food material feedstocks, including those collected in the green bin as a result of SB 1383, may count towards the quantity of tons diverted and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduced if they are newly diverted from landfill and subsequently composted or digested by the proposed project.

For the purposes of this grant program, “newly diverted” means the materials are currently being landfilled or used as ADC and will instead be diverted to composting or anaerobic digestion as a result of this project.  Note that not all materials included under the SB 1383 regulatory definition of “organic waste” are eligible feedstocks for the Organics Grant Program.  This grant program is focused on expanding infrastructure for the recycling of food materials and green materials only.

  1. We have a covered aerated static pile (CASP) composting facility, but we do not know if the pre-processing facility counts as a stand-alone facility.  Are we eligible for the Anaerobic Digestion/Co-Digestion and Composting project type?

Stand-Alone Pre-Processing refers to projects that will remove contaminants from food waste or green waste feedstock prior to composting or digestion and are not co-located at the digestion or composting facility.

Projects that propose the installation of pre-processing equipment at a composting or digestion facility (i.e., the equipment is co-located at the composting or digestion facility and is not “stand-alone”) should apply through the Anaerobic digestion/Co-digestion or Composting project types.  It is the applicant’s responsibility to determine which project type for which they are applying and only one application should be submitted for each project.

Refer to page eight in the Available Funds section of the Application Guidelines and Instructions.

  1. We are looking at turning green waste and food waste into biodiesel which appears like it is an eligible project.  However, when I look at some of the project types there is not that kind of project.

Only four project types are eligible for the Organics Grant Program (Cycle 7): (1) anaerobic digestion/co-digestion, (2) composting, (3) in-vessel composting, and (4) stand-alone pre-processing projects.  Projects producing renewable energy products, such as transportation fuel, renewable electricity, heat, or biomethane for pipeline injection, are only eligible if utilizing anaerobic digestion or co-digestion to process green or food waste.

  1. We are interested in expanding and re-working our transfer station to include organic diversion and to make the space more efficient.  Could a project like this qualify under a Stand-Alone Pre-Processing Project or aid in the “Construction, renovation, or expansion of facilities to increase in-state infrastructure for the pre-processing of organics”?

Yes, the project may qualify as a stand-alone pre-processing project if the project will pre-process food waste and/or green waste to remove contaminants prior to composting or digestion and the project is not co-located at a composting or an anaerobic digestion facility.  Stand-alone pre-processing projects must have letters of intent in place for the pre-processed California generated green and/or food material to be digested and/or composted and not landfilled.

  1. We are applying to the organic experiment with the hopes of receiving funding to develop an anaerobic digestion plant to make compost and renewable natural gas.  The project requirements in the Organics Grant Program guidelines state that projects must result in an increase in the tons of green or food materials diverted from landfill disposal.  Currently our counties are composting their green waste.  We are wondering if we can apply for the grant to increase the value of the product by not only making compost but also renewable gas through the anaerobic digestion plant.

No.  The project must process California-generated food or green waste that would otherwise be disposed in a landfill or used as alternative daily cover (ADC).  However, you may apply for an anaerobic digestion project if the project will process material that is newly diverted from landfill disposal or ADC use.  For purposes of this program, “newly diverted” means the materials that are currently being landfilled or used as ADC that will instead be diverted as a result of this project.

  1. Does the grant cover setting up an anaerobic digestion unit in order to digest animal manure for generating biogas, and use the digestate as raw input for organic fertilizer?  Please note that the manure in this case is currently going to composting plants and not to landfills.

No.  Animal manure is an ineligible feedstock.  In addition, green and/or food material that is currently being composted is not a new diversion from landfill disposal and therefore, not an eligible feedstock for this grant program.

  1. I am interested in submitting a grant proposal for funds from the Organics Grant Program to support diversion of green waste from landfills.  My question is whether my program would be eligible for receiving funds, particularly if the organization on the form is a 501(c)3 chartered to operate in the realm of homeless housing.  My objective would be to wrap in the sustainable benefits of green waste capture with existing housing strategies.  I am just not sure how to handle the eligibility/compliance piece if I am applying for green waste diversion funds through a nonprofit entity tasked with housing.

Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations (except private schools) registered with the federal government under 501(c)3, (c)4, (c)6 or (c)10 of the Internal Revenue Code and must be qualified to do business in California and be in good standing with all applicable California state agencies, including being registered and current in the Registry of Charitable Trusts.  For the full list of eligible applicants, refer to page five of the Guidelines and Instructions.

Eligible grant projects are the construction, renovation, or expansion of facilities to increase in-state infrastructure for the composting or digestion of food or green materials into compost, soil amendments, fertilizers, biofuels, or bioenergy.  Projects must facilitate or result in new diversion of green or food materials from landfill disposal, or use as Alternative Daily Cover (ADC), to composting or anaerobic digestion.  Collection of green materials is not an eligible activity.

In addition, refer to page seven of the Procedures and Requirements which identifies ineligible costs.

  1. Is equipment that supports further contamination removal of composted screened overs, that are currently sent to disposal and not able to be beneficial recovered/reuse due to compost product contamination standards, considered “newly diverted” tons and eligible for grant funding? The material may be from both existing and newly diverted sources.

Yes. Equipment that supports contamination removal from composted overs at a composting facility is an eligible expense. Composted overs that are currently being landfilled and consist of green material are an eligible feedstock. To be eligible for this grant program, projects must result in or facilitate new diversion of green materials or food materials from landfill disposal or use as Alternative Daily Cover (ADC).

  1. Are green waste materials that have negative human impacts (i.e., cannabis, oleander, mistletoe, poison oak, nettle, poison hemlock, etc.), eligible feedstock?

Green materials and food materials that are currently being landfilled, and that will be composted or digested as a result of the project, are eligible feedstocks. For CalRecycle’s Organics Grant Program, refer to the regulatory definitions of “food material” and “green material” in 14 CFR, Division 7, Chapter 3.1 Section 17852.

While CalRecycle is unaware of any prohibitions to composting these types of green materials, applicants should consult with their local permitting authorities, including the local enforcement agency, to ensure there are no prohibitions to composting these types of green materials.

  1. Would the installation of a debagger be an eligible pre-processing project? 

Yes. Debagging equipment is an eligible grant expenditure. The pre-processed material needs to be California-generated waste that would otherwise go to landfill but will instead be composted or digested as a result of the grant project. Please note a Letter of Intent is required for stand-alone pre-processing project applications, when the lead applicant is not the same entity that will compost or digest the pre-processed material.

  1. Are facility scales an eligible pre-processing project? The scales would allow organic material to be weighed on site to track the amount of processed material, in order to evaluate and increase recovery.

Stand-alone pre-processing projects are projects that remove contaminants from food waste and/or green waste feedstock prior to composting or digestion, that are not co-located at a composting or an anaerobic digestion facility.

A facility scale may be an eligible cost, but the project must meet all eligibility requirements, including that the project will facilitate or result in new diversion of green or food materials, from landfill disposal or use as Alternative Daily Cover (ADC), to composting or anaerobic digestion.

  1. One of the project requirements of the Organics Grant Program is an increase in quantity of green/food materials newly diverted from landfill disposal or used as alternate daily cover. If materials are currently sent offsite for animal feed, with the landfill used as contingency, would these tons be eligible for the grant? We would submit that SB 1383 already requires food scraps to avoid the landfill, and grant funding could support greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions in this situation through onsite composting as compared to the emissions associated with transportation to the animal feed outlet, the capacity of which is inconsistent and fragile. We believe the grant could effectively reduce significant GHG emissions of this material but have concerns about eligibility since not all tons are currently sent to landfill. Could you clarify or provide an assessment of eligibility?

Only projects that will result in the composting or digestion of California-generated food or green waste that is currently disposed of in a landfill or used as Alternative Daily Cover (ADC) are eligible for grant funding. A Feedstock Certification or Feedstock Commitment Letter is a required grant application document to show commitment of an eligible feedstock for the grant project.

  1. Is a jurisdiction eligible for a grant by improving the efficiency of organics composting that reduces GHG emissions through significant reduction in the diesel trucking of organics and improved biosolid co-composting? Does a jurisdiction qualify for ORG7 despite not diverting significant new additional organics from landfills or Alternative Daily Cover (ADC) and instead increasing composting efficiency? In that case, does the grant focus on jurisdictions with no organics processing and penalize early adopters of SB 1383 and AB 1826?

To be eligible for grant funding, projects must facilitate or result in an increase in the quantity of green materials and/or food materials newly diverted from landfill disposal or Alternative Daily Cover (ADC). Eligible projects must be the construction, renovation, or expansion of facilities to increase in-state infrastructure for the composting or digestion of green and/or food material that is currently sent to landfill for disposal or used as ADC. Eligible projects do not include reduction of truck traffic or improvements of existing diversion operations that do not increase the quantity of green or food materials newly diverted from landfill disposal or use as ADC.

  1. Would a project that converts food waste into organic fertilizer by drying, mixing, heating, and pelletizing be eligible for an Organics Grant Program? While composting activities do happen through the process of stabilizing the feedstock, it is a mechanically aided process rather than windrow or static pile.

Eligible projects are the construction, renovation, or expansion of facilities to increase in-state infrastructure for the composting or digestion of newly landfill diverted organics into compost, soil amendments, fertilizers, biofuels, or bioenergy or the pre-processing for these project types. Drying, mixing, heating, and pelletizing may be eligible if the food waste is ultimately composted or digested as a result of the project.

  1. Our facility has been built and operational for about 18 months and we are having some challenges in getting the anaerobic digester and its adjacent compost management unit to operate as planned. One challenge is we are having a severe odor issue. Although this is not an environmental justice issue as it is a low population area, we still have around a half a dozen people living about half a mile away that have been affected by odors. To reduce odors, we have been burying compost that has not completed curing and losing the key benefit of avoiding landfill disposal of those organics. We are looking into a covering system that would lock in volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) as the digestate cures on site (plastic sheeting with a potential forced aeration system). Theoretically this could help us avoid the burial of organics, but this is technically not an expansion, but an aid to assist in existing operations. Is this an eligible Organics Grant Program grant project?

No. While a project may include equipment or materials to manage digestate as part of the grant project, the project must result in new diversion of green and/or food materials from landfill disposal or use as Alternative Daily Cover (ADC) to be eligible for the Organics Grant Program. You may refer to the regulatory definitions of “food material” and “green material” in 14 CFR, Division 7, Chapter 3.1 Section 17852.

  1. Are private California universities or campus stadiums eligible for the CalRecycle Organics Grant Program grant? Is there a specific way that the university/venue should be listed to increase eligibility or properly state its status as an organization?

No. Private universities are educational nonprofit organizations. As listed in the Application Guidelines and Instructions, eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations (except private schools) registered with the federal government under 501(c)3, (c)4, (c)6 or (c)10 of the Internal Revenue Code.

  1. Is setting up an anaerobic digestion unit to digest animal manure for generating biogas, and using the digestate as raw input for organic fertilizer eligible? Please note that the manure in this case is currently going to composting plants and not to landfills.

No. Only green materials and food materials that are currently being landfilled, but will instead be composted or digested, are eligible feedstocks. Animal manure is not included in the definition of food or green material and, therefore, not an eligible feedstock. Green and/or food material that is currently being composted is not a new diversion from landfill disposal and therefore, not an eligible feedstock for this grant program.

  1. It is stated that biosolids are not an eligible feedstock. If the biosolids are currently being landfilled and would be diverted to compost, it would seem this would be eligible for funding. SB 1383 includes biosolids as an organic material that must be diverted from landfills to reduce GHG emissions.

Not all materials included under the SB 1383 regulatory definition of “organic waste” are eligible feedstocks for the Organics Grant Program. This grant program is focused on expanding California infrastructure for the pre-processing, composting, or digestion of newly diverted food materials and green materials only. As stated, and for this reason, biosolids are not an eligible feedstock.

  1. A response to a previous question seems to be saying that an excluded tier composting operation would be eligible to apply for a grant of up to $500,000. Also, LEAs sometimes have issues with restaurants doing composting and then serving up the produce. Would such a facility be eligible to receive grant funding through this cycle?

In-Vessel Composting Projects are eligible for a grant award amount of $250,000-$500,000. This may include projects and activities that are excluded from solid waste permitting. As directed in the application package, applicants must reach out to their local Enforcement Agency (EA) to confirm the regulatory status that will result from the project and must include in their application documentation from the EA that supports this claim. Please note that projects intending to operate under an Enforcement Agency (EA) Notification Tier as a Research Composting Operation under 14 CCR § 17862 are not eligible.

  1. For the digestate solids disposal/treatment options, the CalrecycleOrganicsCalcTool does not allow the option to select solids pyrolysis. Can this be added in the calculations to account for the higher GHG reductions?

No. Applicants are expected to use the California Air Resources Board approved June 2020 quantification methodology, but applicants that propose eligible projects that cannot be calculated using the GHG quantification methodology may propose an alternative GHG quantification method. To request use of an alternative methodology, applicants should have emailed grantassistance@CalRecycle.ca.gov by the due date of March 30, 2023.

  1. Would a proposed compost facility expansion project be eligible if it helped the facility reach its full daily tonnage limit without seeking a maximum tonnage increase?

Yes. Grant projects must increase the quantity (tons) of green materials or food materials that are newly diverted from landfill disposal or Alternative Daily Cover (ADC) use and composted or digested in California. Projects are not required to seek permit revisions if the project location already has the appropriate permitting in place to cover the grant project. Applicants should detail the permitting status in the Permits document and provide documentation to support the narrative responses.

  1. Our current organics recycling program includes collection and processing of food scraps and green waste into compost at a facility outside of our city. Could this grant be used to expand our city’s wastewater treatment plant to include anaerobic digestion so we can start recycling organics at our own facility rather than it being trucked 30 miles away for composting?

No. Grant projects must increase the quantity (tons) of green materials or food materials that are newly diverted from landfill disposal or Alternative Daily Cover (ADC) use and composted or digested in California. This scenario diverts food and green materials from composting, therefore is not a new diversion.

  1. Our biosolids pre-digester processing technology generates a liquid that will feed an anaerobic digester to make biogas. A solid output will be pyrolized to make bio-oil fuel. Phosphorous will be extracted from the material as fertilizer. Are biosolids an eligible organics feedstock that can be diverted from landfill under this grant? Is the biosolids pre-digester processing system eligible as a pre-processing project under this grant?

No, biosolids are not an eligible feedstock. Only California-generated food or green waste that is currently being landfilled is eligible under the Organics Grant Program. Refer to the regulatory definitions of “food material” and “green material” in 14 CFR, Division 7, Chapter 3.1 Section 17852. The pre-processing system is also not eligible because it is not pre-processing eligible feedstock.

  1. We have a business (with a nonprofit component) offering locally sourced and organic prepared meals. We buy “after-market” produce from local regenerative small farms and work with these items (food otherwise slated to be discarded or composted). Is grant funding an ultra-climate friendly alternative to the composting of potentially useable edible food eligible?

No. Edible food recovery is not an eligible project. Eligible grant projects for this program include construction, renovation, or expansion of facilities to increase in-state infrastructure for the composting or digestion of organics into compost, soil amendments, fertilizers, biofuels or bioenergy or the construction, renovation, or expansion of facilities to increase in-state infrastructure for the pre-processing of organics.

  1. We are a California company developing fully compostable food packaging solutions that would allow for the diversion of California-generated food that would otherwise be disposed of in a landfill. Any food waste left in various types of packaging that currently goes to landfills, will then go to a composting facility without the need for sorting and/or separation. Full compostability of our packaging material (including home composting and marine composting) has been proven. We intend to establish a program to facilitate newly diverted food waste through a partnership with a California composting facility. Would our project be eligible for the grant?

Based on the information provided we cannot determine if the project will be eligible. Refer to the Project Requirements and all eligibility components in the Guidelines and Instructions and Procedures and Requirements.

The Organics Grant Program provides funds to support expansion of the waste management infrastructure, particularly for new or expanded organics infrastructure such as composting and digestion facilities, to achieve greenhouse gas reductions. Eligible projects include:

  • Construction, renovation, or expansion of facilities to increase in-state infrastructure for the composting or digestion of organics into compost, soil amendments, fertilizers, biofuels, or bioenergy.
  • Construction, renovation, or expansion of facilities to increase in-state infrastructure for the pre-processing of organics.

Projects that are designed to serve as a collection program would not be an eligible project. Additionally, compostable food packaging is not an eligible feedstock under this grant program. Only green materials and food materials that are newly diverted from landfills are considered eligible feedstocks.

  1. The city has evaluated opportunities for accepting and expanding food waste for co-digestion at the Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP) and plan to accept approximately 20,000 gallons per day of pre-processed food waste by 2025 and 30,000 gallons per day by 2035. A study was performed to evaluate the impacts to the design of the Secondary Treatment and Dewatering facilities at WPCP and showed that treating the additional nitrogen contributed from food waste co-digestion will require an addition of a granular deammonification sidestream treatment process (DEMON), besides the planned conventional activated sludge (CAS) process. The DEMON process will remove additional sidestream nitrogen load from co-digestion of food waste, which is anticipated to increase sidestream nitrogen loads by 65 percent compared to sidestream nitrogen loads only from digestion of biosolids. The DEMON system has been 100 percent designed and awarded to a contractor in the 4th quarter of 2022. The project is shovel ready for construction and projected to be completed by April 2026 based on the current schedule. Is this DEMON process eligible for this organics grant? Also, if we are sole sourcing the DEMON process with wastewater solutions company are there any requirements from CalRecycle that will rule us, or if the grant would accommodate sole sourced equipment?

Yes, equipment used to manage and treat biosolids/digestate, such as nitrogen treatment systems, may be an eligible grant-funded part of the project, provided all grant criteria are met. The project must result in new diversion of green and/or food materials from landfill disposal or use as Alternative Daily Cover (ADC) to be eligible for the Organics Grant Program. The application and funding must be for separate project components (including separate diverted tonnage) than a project previously funded by another CalRecycle grant or loan. All contracting must be done in compliance with the city’s contracting requirements.

  1. In the “Notice of Funds Available: Organics Grant Program (FYs 2021-22 and 2022-23)” in the eligibility section, there is a note that reads “Projects intending to operate under an Enforcement Agency (EA) Notification Tier as a Research Composting Operation under 14 CCR § 17862 are not eligible.” We have a project that is currently under an EA Notification tier, but we are in the process of converting to a fully licensed facility. Would this converted facility be eligible for funding under this opportunity?

Yes, projects that have not yet finished the permitting process, (e.g., have not yet filed an EA Notification, have not yet been issued a Solid Waste Facility Permit), are eligible to apply. Project locations that currently operate under an EA Notification as a Research Composting Operation under 14 CCR § 17862 are eligible to apply if they plan to operate the grant project under a different permitting tier.

  1. Is a proposal for a system of organics processing that incorporates the addition of pre-processing equipment at multiple locations which will feed previously unprocessed organics from multiple areas into a “centralized, consolidating composting facility” eligible for consideration?

Yes. The pre-processing equipment must process California-generated green materials and/or food materials, newly diverted from landfill disposal or Alternative Daily Cover (ADC) use, that will be composted or digested at a facility in California. The project described may qualify as a stand-alone pre-processing project if the project will pre-process food waste and/or green waste to remove contaminants prior to composting or digestion and the project is not co-located at a composting or an anaerobic digestion facility.

You may submit one application for installation of equipment at multiple sites if the eligible grant costs are within the minimum and maximum award amounts.  You must include information for each site in your responses in the Narrative Proposal and upload all the necessary and appropriate documents for each site.  Alternatively, you may choose to submit one application for each project site.

Note only two applications per qualifying entity will be accepted.

  1. A company’s countertop units dry, grind, and cool food waste, turning it into a soil amendment in a matter of hours. If this company formed a partnership with an Anaerobic/Co-digestion (AD) or Composting facility (and secure the required letter of intent indicating that these facilities would receive the soil amendment for composting or AD), would this type of technology qualify as pre-processing? Additionally, the company has commercial scale solutions. Do they qualify as in-vessel composting? How are in-vessel compost projects defined? Is there a specific regulatory definition we should reference?

The technology described does not appear to qualify as a stand-alone pre-processing project. For this grant program, stand-alone pre-processing projects are projects that remove contaminants from food waste and/or green waste feedstock prior to composting or digestion, that are not co-located at a composting or an anaerobic digestion facility.

The technology described also does not appear to qualify as an in-vessel composting project. For the CalRecycle Organics Grant Program, refer to the regulatory definitions cited in 14 CFR, Division 7, Ch 3.1, Section 17852.

“Within-vessel composting process” is defined as an aerobic process in which compostable material is enclosed in a drum, silo, bin, tunnel, reactor, or other container for the purpose of producing compost, maintained under uniform conditions of temperature and moisture where airborne emissions are controlled.

Food materials and/or green materials that have gone through an in-vessel composting process are in an “active compost” phase, meaning the materials are under rapid decomposition and unstable. The output materials from an in-vessel composting process require additional time to become “stabilized compost” by undergoing Process to Further Reduce Pathogen (PFRP) as described in section 17868.3 and reach a stage of reduced biological activity as indicated by reduced temperature and rate of respiration below that of active compost. In addition, further “Curing” is required and defined as the final stage of the composting process that occurs after compost has undergone pathogen reduction, and after most of the readily metabolized material has been decomposed and stabilized.

  1. Would a “smart composting bin” be eligible for funding? The goal of such a project would be to provide convenient locations for residents to drop off food waste which can then be collected for composting.

No. Collection of feedstocks is not an eligible expense.

  1. Does a pre-processing project have to result in an increase in anaerobic digestion or composting? Is a project eligible for funding if it modernizes existing infrastructure and improves efficiency but does not result in a net increase in newly diverted food/green waste?

Yes, projects must result in an increase in digestion or composting of California-generated green materials or food materials that are newly diverted from landfill disposal or Alternative Daily Cover (ADC) use. Projects that improve existing pre-processing infrastructure are not eligible if they only process feedstocks that are already diverted from landfill and do not result in new diversion of food and/or green waste.

  1. Is a project eligible if it will not be 100 percent completed by April 1, 2026?  Would a partially completed project be eligible if it can demonstrate partial benefits by that deadline?

No. Construction or installation of grant awarded projects must be completed and in operation by the grant term end date, April 1, 2026.

Funding

  1. From which pool of funding would cooperative grant applications that seek $13,000,000 for both pre-processing and compost infrastructure draw? Would the $3,000,000 for pre-processing portion of this application be competing within the $15,000,000 pool for pre-processing?

Cooperative grant applications that seek up to $13 million for both stand-alone pre-processing infrastructure (i.e., infrastructure that removes contaminants from food waste/or green waste feedstock prior to composting or digestion, that is not co-located at a composting or anaerobic digestion facility) and composting infrastructure would draw from the Composting Projects allocation of approximately $78.4 million.  Likewise, cooperative applications that include an anaerobic digestion/co-digestion project and a stand-alone pre-processing project would draw from the Anaerobic Digestion/Co-Digestion Projects allocation of approximately $56.5 million.

  1. Can pre-processing equipment be part of the $13 million and not be a stand-alone pre-processing project or under a Cooperative Agreement but be part of the $13 million with the same entity doing the composting or anaerobic digestion, (i.e., pre-processing not stand alone but part of the Solid Waste Facility Permit)?

No, the $13 million maximum award amount is reserved for Cooperative Applications, in which two or more eligible entities join together for the purpose of grant implementation. However, pre-processing equipment may be included in a single applicant’s grant application as part of a composting or anaerobic digestion project for the $10 million maximum award.

  1. The Guidelines and Instructions state that projects in a Cooperative Application can request up to $13,000,000. Do the maximum award amounts set for the Anaerobic Digestion/Co-Digestion Projects or Composting Projects (up to $10 million) and offsite Stand-Alone Pre-Processing Projects (between $500,000 and $3 million) apply (i.e., up to $10 million can be used at the digestion or composting facility and between $500,000 and $3 million can be used at the offsite pre-processing location)?

No, it’s up to the two eligible entities applying together in the Cooperative Application to determine the distribution of funds. However, the application materials must identify the grant-funded equipment/infrastructure at all project locations.

  1. A waste management authority is a regional agency serving the majority of the County and has several projects in the works at our materials recovery and compost facilities to recover and compost increased types and quantities of organics from the Municipal Solid Waste stream. The waste management authority initially planned to fund these infrastructure investments via revenue bonds, which require tip fee increases over the term of the bonds to generate sufficient revenue for repayment. Use of available grant funds to offset some of these costs would allow the waste management authority to stabilize rates or invest in other material recovery processes in the future. Can CalRecycle confirm that use of grant funds for facility improvements that would otherwise be funded through revenue bonds is allowable under ORG7?

Yes. The grant-funded expenditure is eligible for reimbursement if the expenditure is an eligible cost and included in an approved budget, incurred during the grant term, and not covered by another CalRecycle or State of California grant.

  1. A start-up compost business’s costs are small, but as it grows, it will need a truck, advertisements, and educational materials. Can you briefly discuss this funding opportunity grant program?

Eligible grant projects are the construction, renovation, or expansion of facilities to increase in-state infrastructure for the composting or digestion of food or green waste into compost, soil amendments, fertilizers, biofuels, or bioenergy. Eligible costs include, but are not limited to, equipment, vehicles used exclusively on-site, and educational materials for public outreach, education, and community benefits. Refer to the Eligible Costs section on page six of the Procedures and Requirements.

  1. Are the purchase and operational costs of pedestrian organic waste containers eligible for funding?  These would be Big Belly units similar to our recycling and refuse units.

No.  Eligible project costs do not include collection of organic waste feedstock including the purchase of Big Belly containers.

  1. Will funds be available for fiscal year 2024 rounds or, due to the State budget deficit, will it not be available or will award amounts be decreased?  Is the grant typically offered annually or is this a one-time grant?

The Organics Grant Program receives funding from Cap-And-Trade offsets through the California Climate Investments.  Cap-And-Trade funds are not continuously appropriated.  Funds allocated to CalRecycle’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Grant Programs vary from year to year.  Notification of any future grant solicitations will be announced through the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Grant Programs Listserv.

  1. Is the environmental justice consultant included in the maximum $10 million budget or in addition to that amount?

The environmental justice consultant is included within the requested grant funds not to exceed the maximum award amount for the project type that applicants are applying for.

  1. If two entities own and operate independent systems (i.e., standalone pre-processing and anaerobic digestion) at a co-located facility, would that qualify for up to $13 million under a Cooperative Application?

No. For purposes of this grant cycle, we defined stand-alone pre-processing projects as those that remove contaminants from food waste/or green waste feedstock prior to composting or digestion and are not co-located at a composting or anaerobic digestion facility. In this scenario, the application may request up to $10 million in eligible costs.

  1. What level of latitude does a grant awardee have in spending the money?  If we apply for a grant to purchase equipment to control odors at a compost facility, but are not sure which of the two final technologies and methods to use, can we switch technologies and equipment after the award? If there is an allowable difference in cost, how much latitude do we have?

Applicants must include all costs to complete the grant project in the Budget Template. After a project is awarded, it is possible to revise the Grant Budget if the expenditure item(s) remains within the scope of the original project. Costs can also be flexible if they are for eligible items that are appropriate to complete the project. Grant-funded expenditures must not exceed the grant award amount. The grantee must submit any proposed revision(s) to the Work Plan and/or Budget in writing to the Grant Manager. The grantee may not incur costs or make expenditures based on the revision without first receiving the Grant Manager’s written approval. Proposed revisions must be clearly marked on the Work Plan and/or Budget and must be accompanied by a summary of proposed changes or modifications, including justification for the proposed changes. After a request is received, the revised budget will be reviewed and, if approved by the Grant Manager, a final revised Work Plan and/or Budget will be uploaded to Grant Management System and the grantee will be notified.

  1. Are the $120,000 available funds for an Environmental Justice consultant related to CEQA enforcement, or for oversight of the whole project? Is there a specific scope of work expected of that consultant?

No. The Environmental Justice Consultant will act as a liaison between the facility and the local community. This position could assist with ongoing community engagement, identifying local needs, and developing a targeted hiring strategy

Application

  1. What name should be listed in the required Site Tab field of GMS? Is it the same as the Applicant name?

The Site Name is specific to the grant project site.  For more information on completing this field, see page 16 of the Application Guidelines and Instructions document, located on the Notice of Funds Available webpage.

  1. Should an applicant choose only one of the four project types?

Yes. It is the applicant’s responsibility to determine which project type for which they are applying and only one application should be submitted for each project. If an applicant has multiple projects for which they seek grant funding, up to two applications per qualifying entity will be accepted. The grant expenditures in the proposed Budget must be within the award amount for project type.

  1. Both “Admin Costs” and “Construction/Application Costs” include permitting as an example of eligible costs and both categories are subject to the five percent cap.  How exactly are permitting, design, and engineering costs supposed to be handled in the budget? 

Indirect costs specifically for the design and construction of project infrastructure (i.e., site plan and development, infrastructure design, building permit applications, etc.), should be under the Construction/Application category in the Budget document.  These costs are subject to the five percent of the total grant budget limit.

Costs that are not directly related to the construction and installation of project infrastructure and equipment, including permits outside of construction (i.e., air district permits, solid waste facility permits, regional water board permits, etc.), should be under the Admin category in the Budget document and are also subject to the five percent limit.  Refer to page seven and eight of the Procedures and Requirements.

  1. Is the grant budget for on-going costs or a total project estimate?

The budget must include all costs associated with all infrastructure activities necessary to complete the project and include other project funding sources along with proposed grant funds. The budget should also include any community benefits items/activities, under the correct funding source, claimed in the application. Budget line items should relate to Work Plan activities and information in the Narrative Proposal.

  1. Can we submit our food waste slurry hauler contract or agreements in lieu of the Feedstock Certification Form or Feedstock Commitment Letter?

No, the Feedstock Certification Form(s) or Feedstock Commitment Letter(s) are required application documents. However, information from a franchise agreement or hauling contract can be submitted along with the Feedstock Certification Form(s) or Feedstock Commitment Letter(s) as supporting evidence that the feedstock supplier either generates or has rights to the waste. For more information, refer to page 20 of the Application Guidelines and Instructions.

  1. Is it possible for an applicant to upload a video or stills of a video that were created as part of the applicant’s community outreach to residents and groups? Where in the application could that be done?

You may provide a video or stills of the video as supporting documentation. The video or stills should not be in place of an actual written response. They should be uploaded to the Document tab of the application in the
Grant Management System and cannot exceed 35 MB

  1. In the Budget template, what does Entity Receiving Expenditure mean? Do you want the subcontractor used to supply the equipment or do the work or the grant recipient?

The Entity Receiving Expenditure is the name and address of the company/agency that is receiving the expenditure line item or service. For example:

  • Provide the information of the grantee or partner that is receiving the line-item equipment or material
  • Provide the information of the grantee or partner that is receiving payment for the line-item equipment installation or construction
  • Provide the information of the grantee or partner that is receiving payment for the line-item service, (i.e., project design, engineering services, consulting, project administration)

If awarded, grant-funded items are reimbursed after the order and payment have been completed. For grant-funded items, reimbursement requires supporting documentation of the eligible purchase and proof of payment.

  1. If our application includes a request for two in-vessel composting machines to go at each of our two warehouse locations, do we submit one application for both sites or two different applications since it will take place at two different locations? All funding will go to one entity which will oversee and report on the project.

You may submit one application for both sites if the eligible grant costs are within the minimum and maximum award amounts. You must include information for both sites in your responses in the Narrative Proposal and upload all the necessary and appropriate documents for each site. Alternatively, you may choose to submit one application for each project site if the eligible grant costs are within the minimum and maximum award amounts.

  1. Can the owner of a property submit a letter of intent instead of a lease agreement to utilize composting equipment for the purpose set forth in the grant and provide a lease upon award?

Yes, a letter of intent from the property owner may be submitted for the application, but if awarded, the grantee would not be issued a “Notice to Proceed” for the grant project until a lease agreement is provided. In addition, the grant would be terminated if a signed lease agreement is not provided by a due date set by CalRecycle.

  1. Does CalRecycle have a template of an Environmentally Preferable Purchases and Practices (EPPP) Policy or some examples of acceptable EPPP policies that we may use?

The Environmentally Preferable Purchases and Practices (EPPP) policy is developed and adopted by the applicant’s company/agency. It addresses how the company/agency will handle both environmentally preferable purchasing and practices. Refer to the Environmentally Preferable Purchases and Practices (EPPP) Policy Frequently Asked Questions webpage for more information and examples of policies.

  1. In the document titled “Benefits Worksheet”, do we need to continue with the “Jobs Training and Workforce Development” piece, or can we just apply for “Waste Diversion and Utilization”?

The Priority Population Benefits Worksheet is a required application document that needs to be completed in full, even if sections are not applicable. All projects are expected to consider impacts and benefits to the local community. Refer to the Community Benefits Guidance section on pages 21 and 22 of the Application Guidelines and Instructions.

Greenhouse Gas Calculation

  1. For pre-processing projects, will an alternative methodology be required, or can these projects use information from the end processers (e.g., composting or digestion facility) to calculate greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions using the CARB-approved FY 2018–2019 quantification method?

Stand-alone pre-processing projects should use the California Air Resource Board (CARB)-approved quantification methodology to calculate the projected GHG emissions reductions, using the appropriate tab in the Benefits Calculator Tool (i.e., Compost, Standalone Anaerobic Digestion, and/or Co-Digestion) that pertains to the proposed project and end processing of the pre-processed materials.  Applicants that propose eligible projects that cannot be calculated using the GHG quantification methodology must propose an alternative GHG quantification method.  For more information on the alternative GHG quantification method procedure, please refer to the “Alternative Methodology Request and Process” section of the Application Guidelines and Instructions: located on the Notice of Funds Available webpage.

  1. If an applicant has already calculated GHG emissions reductions for the project outside of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) Benefits Calculator, may the applicant choose to request an alternative GHG methodology?

Applicants are expected to use the CARB approved June 2020 quantification methodology, but applicants that propose eligible projects that cannot be calculated using the GHG quantification methodology may propose an alternative GHG quantification method. To request use of an alternative methodology, applicants must email grantassistance@CalRecycle.ca.gov at least three weeks prior to the Application due date, (no later than March 30, 2023).

CalRecycle, in consultation with CARB, will evaluate whether the proposed project is substantially outside of the scope of the calculator tool and warrants project-specific calculations.

For more information on the Alternative Methodology Request and Process, please refer to page nineteen of the Application Guidelines and Instructions.

  1. Before applying for this grant, we would like to confirm that either/both Verra Carbon Standards and Climate Action Reserve composting GHG offset methodologies for composting will be acceptable under the “Alternative Greenhouse Gas Methodology” provision of the grant qualification criteria.

Applicants are expected to use the CARB approved June 2020 quantification methodology, but applicants that propose eligible projects that cannot be calculated using the GHG quantification methodology may propose an alternative GHG quantification method. For more information on the Alternative Methodology Request and Process, please refer to page nineteen of the Application Guidelines and Instructions.

Please note the applicant must email grantassistance@CalRecycle.ca.gov at least three weeks prior to the Application due date, (no later than March 30, 2023), and indicate that their proposed project is outside of the scope of the calculator and that they would like to use an alternative methodology.

CalRecycle, in consultation with CARB, will evaluate whether the proposed project is substantially outside of the scope of the calculator tool and warrants project-specific calculations.

Applicants must demonstrate that the proposed project results in GHG emission reductions.

  1. If we are handling large amounts of pre-consumer products from the manufacturer such as food and drinks and we are diverting this from the landfill and using in our compost operation, how do we enter that into the California Air Resources Board (CARB) Benefits Calculator Tool spreadsheet?

Composting projects should enter data in the “Project Info” and “Compost” tabs of the CARB Benefits Calculator Tool.  CARB has developed a step-by-step user guide including project examples, which may be helpful for completing the tool.

  1. For MTCO2e Green Gas calculations, is it acceptable to include the avoided transportation Co-Benefits? The assigned California Air Resources Board (CARB) Benefits Calculator Tool spreadsheet for the Organics Grant Program does not include a page for measuring co-benefits. Is there a recommended CARB calculator for avoided emissions?

The CARB Benefits Calculator Tool assumes that the distance between collection and landfilling is functionally equivalent to the distance between collection and composting, anaerobic digestion, and co-digestion facilities, and therefore assumes transportation emissions are equal to zero. Applicants must complete the tabs in the Benefits Calculator Tool that require data input and relate to the grant-funded activity that will result in composting or digestion/co-digestion of food waste and/or green waste that is newly diverted from landfills, such as the tabs “Project Info,” “Compost,” “Standalone AD,” and/or “Co-Digestion.”