Questions about the Illegal Disposal Site Abatement Grant Program grant application are accepted in writing only, no later than September 17, 2025 for Cycle 104 and January 7, 2026 for Cycle 106. 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
- Equipment rental is mentioned as an eligible cost on the website, but it isn’t listed as an itemized eligible cost in the Procedures and Requirements document.
Only equipment rentals that are primarily used for the approved project described in the grant are eligible.
- Is an inactive (closed) landfill owned and managed by the City, which would also be the applicant, an eligible site? Although the City oversees the site with an active annual budget for routine and certain non-routine compliance activities, the County’s Local Enforcement Agency has issued repeated violations due to ongoing illegal dumping. Given our limited funding, we are exploring grant opportunities to support necessary site security. Specifically, the installation of security fencing to secure the site and help prevent further illegal dumping.
The Illegal Disposal Site grant focuses on Illegal dumping and illegal solid waste sites. Although there is illegal dumping on this site, as a closed landfill, it is eligible for funding under the Legacy Disposal Site Abatement Partial Grant Program, which might be a better fit and is usually less competitive. The Legacy Disposal Site Abatement Partial Grant Program provides financial assistance for the cleanup and restoration of public landfill sites in compliance with state regulations and standards, thereby protecting public health and safety and the environment.
Eligibility
- Are UCs (University of California) eligible to apply for funding under state agencies?
Yes, UCs are eligible to apply as state agencies.
- Is the lease of a mobile surveillance unit, used to guard watershed lands at known illegal dumping sites, permitted, and does it fall into the ‘no more than 25% of total costs’ bucket?
Yes, cameras are eligible under site security, and no more than 25% of the awarded grant can be used toward site security.
- Would ongoing maintenance work and supplies qualify under this grant?
Ongoing Operations and Maintenance does not qualify; however, supplies would qualify under this grant.
Funding
- Can these funds be used for homeless encampment abatement on private property, provided the property owner has authorized the cleanup?
Yes, you can use the funds for homeless encampment abatement on private properties; however, cost recovery would need to be sought, usually resulting in a lien being placed on the property for costs, with CalRecycle as the primary beneficiary.
- Is it ok to apply for $300,000? How competitive is the grant?
The maximum amount of funds an applicant may request is $500,000. The Illegal Disposal Site Abatement Grant is a very competitive grant. Typically, we see $2 million to $5 million requests in applications, with $1 million awarded in a Fiscal Year. CalRecycle awards in a score-ranked order, with the lowest qualified grant often receiving partial funds. Applicants who get approved typically receive the full requested amount.
Application
- What is the anticipated release date for the next cycle?
The grant applications for cycles 104 and 105 are due October 15, 2025. If funds are still available and not exhausted, applications for cycles 106 and 107 will be due February 11, 2026.