Questions about the household Hazardous Waste, HD45 Small Projects Cycle grant application are accepted in writing only, no later than August 12, 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 | Funding | Application
General
- What date should applicants anticipate receiving a Notice to Proceed letter upon award of a Cycle 45 grant?
CalRecycle staff anticipates awarding grants in December 2025. Notice to Proceed emails will be sent after the Grant Agreement is executed. Please note that these dates are tentative.
- Does CalRecycle require the applicant to have an EPPP Policy?
Consistent with CalRecycle’s core values, CalRecycle requires all applicants to have or develop, adopt, and implement an Environmentally Preferable Purchasing and Practices (EPPP) Policy for their organizations.
Applicants must have an EPPP Policy in place prior to submitting their application and certify this fact on the Detail tab in the application. If applicants do not have an EPPP Policy in place prior to submitting their application, they must certify to the fact that a Policy will be adopted by the secondary due date on the Detail tab in the application. Please note that CalRecycle will not pre-approve or review your EPPP Policy documents.
For more information, please refer to the “Environmentally Preferable Purchases and Practices Policy Requirement” section of the Application Guidelines and Instructions (Revised).
Eligibility
- Can we host a regional Training/Hazard Categorization (HazCat) class to help HHW staff identify unknown chemicals dropped off at our HHW facilities. The class would be open to any HHW, CUPA, and first responders who want to attend.
The Small Projects Grant can be used specifically for 8-hour HAZWOPER refresher training. Would this specialized chemical identification training also be an eligible project for these grant funds?
If Small Projects Grant funds cannot be used to host a Hazcat training, could these grant funds be used to cover the costs to send personnel to a class offered by another California jurisdiction?
No. Only 8-hour HAZWOPER refresher training is eligible.
- Our HHW facility and the building that is used for processing and storage of batteries and bulbs of all types need upgrades and modifications. Can the small projects grant apply to the building as well or does it only apply to the formal HHW facility?
Does upgrading the lighting system of an HHW facility qualify as “minor improvements to an existing HHW facility”?
Do these qualify as “minor improvements to an existing HHW facility”?- Replace HHW facility rain gutters
- Replace HHW facility skylights
- Add floor-level secondary containment area to bulking station.
Can a grant cover multiple small projects such as advertising, PPE and the facility upgrades above or does it have to focus on just one category?
The small projects grant can be used towards upgrades to the HHW facility and the building within the site. The grant would also cover all minor improvements listed. The grant can cover multiple small projects including advertising and personal protection equipment (PPE).
- Are projects involving lithium-ion batteries eligible for the Household Hazardous Waste Grant Program (FY 2025-26) – Small Projects Cycle?
Promotion of safe disposal of lithium-ion batteries, collection and disposal costs are eligible for funding.
- Are the following project elements eligible under the HD44 (Construction) or HD45 (Small Project) grant programs?:
- Extension of the existing awning to allow for two traffic lanes
- Associated improvements such as lane striping, new berms, and speed bumps to support traffic flow and participants throughout
- Construction of a dedicated restroom facility for HHW staff (currently staff must use facilities in a separate building)
Can you confirm whether these proposed elements fall within the scope of eligible activities for either grant cycle?
The listed projects would be eligible for both Small Projects and Construction cycles. Please review the maximum award amounts and requirements for each cycle to determine which fits your needs.
- Is an outdoor cooling fan an eligible cost under the PPE eligible materials?
An outdoor cooling fan may qualify as an eligible upgrade. It should be categorized under the equipment budget category for health and safety purposes, rather than under PPE materials.
- Would a radiant energy-sensing fire detection system for our HHW facility, and an outreach campaign about proper HHW disposal for our residents qualify as a small project??
Yes, these are considered eligible projects under the categories of upgrade/expansion and education.
- Can we partner with a company to set up a battery collection program at various city locations? If so, would there be any limitations to what we can or can’t do?
Yes, you may partner with a company to establish a battery collection program at various city locations. CalRecycle will make grant payments to only the grantee. It is the grantee’s responsibility to pay all contractors and subcontractors for purchased goods and services prior to requesting reimbursement from CalRecycle. Refer to the Procedures and Requirements for eligible and ineligible costs.
- Can we use grant funds to promote our temporary HHW events via a billboard advertisement?
Grant funds may be used to promote temporary HHW events via billboard advertising, as part of the education category.
- Can we purchase materials such as oil containers or sharps kits to give away during city events? If items are not an incentive, can we purchase any materials for resident giveaways?
Used oil containers and sharps kits are ineligible.
No, items that are not an incentive cannot be purchased for resident giveaways. For further information about eligible incentive items, refer to the Procedures and Requirements [link to Procedures and Requirements PDF] document.
- Is there a limit to personnel costs, and what do we need to submit for reimbursement of these costs? Is this the same as indirect costs?
Would we be able to use grant funds to pay overtime for city staff working at HHW event on a Saturday? These events are held in the city, but they are temporary events hosted by the County. Also, if grant funds cover these expenses, what are the limitations?
There is no limit to personnel cost for eligible projects. This is a direct cost and shall not be included in the indirect cost formula.
Overtime is allowed for city staff who are required to work at an HHW collection event on a Saturday. Personnel time should be calculated based on documented actual time spent on approved activities, should be based on the actual salary or hourly wage paid with benefits, and should not include vacation, holiday or sick leave time. Grantee shall provide a Personnel Expenditure Summary (CalRecycle 165 or grantee’s version) and a form of proof of payment for reimbursement.
- What type of personal protection equipment (PPE) is eligible to purchase? The County hosts the HHW events held in our city. Would this make the city ineligible for this type of expense?
The city may purchase PPE for the city’s HHW program regardless of who hosts HHW events. Refer to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (https://www.osha.gov/personal-protective-equipment) for the definition of PPE.
- We would like to purchase two-gallon battery collection bins to distribute to our residents for proper disposal of household batteries. Is this an eligible expense?
No, this is not an eligible expense.
Funding
No questions at this time.
Application
- If a jurisdiction does not have an HHW facility, then what location do they put on the application for their mobile collection events?
List the anticipated site(s) where the HHW events will be held.
- What is the scoring criteria?
There is no scoring criteria for HD45. Staff will review all applications to confirm project eligibility and evaluate the application to determine if the application meets all requirements. A random selection process will be conducted if the cycle is oversubscribed. Refer to the “Grant Application Review Process” in the Application Guidelines and Instructions (Revised).
- The HD45 budget form includes a statement “Indirect Costs: Capped at 10 percent of the grant funds awarded” regarding indirect costs. Can we enter an amount up to 10 percent of the grant funds reimbursed to capture all indirect overhead costs or is that statement referring to indirect costs already accounted for in entries appearing above the statement, such as the benefits that get added to pay rates?
If we can claim up to 10 percent indirect costs as described above, is it permissible to have that percentage also cover staff time spent on items such as preparing pay requests and reports?
You may allocate up to 10 percent of the grant funds awarded to cover all indirect overhead costs. Staff time spent on grant progress reports and payment requests are considered a direct cost and should be claimed in the personnel category.
- Can an entity submit an application to both HD44 and HD45 cycles?
An entity can apply for both HD44 and HD45 cycles either as an individual applicant or join in a regional application. However, it cannot receive both grants for the same project. If the project is recommended for funding under both grant cycles, the entity will have the option to choose which grant to accept.
- Can an entity submit more than one application for a grant cycle? Can entities from different counties join together in a regional application?
No, an entity can only submit one application for a grant cycle.
An eligible entity can apply as an individual applicant. Two or more eligible entities from the State of California may join together in a regional application. If an entity participates in a regional application, it may not apply individually. Furthermore, an entity may not submit an individual application if that entity is also a member of an applicant Joint Powers Authorities (JPA).