Beverage Container Recycling Grant Program (Fiscal Years 2026-27 and 2027-28)

About this funding opportunity

The Department of resources Recycling and Recovery offers the Beverage Container Recycling Grant Program pursuant to Section 14581(a)(4) of the Public Resources Code. The purpose of the grant is to issue up to $1,500,000 annually in the form of grants for beverage container recycling and litter reduction programs to promote increased recycling beverage containers throughout California and reduce beverage container litter in the waste stream.

CalRecycle is seeking projects that implement new programs or enhance existing programs to provide convenient beverage container recycling opportunities in various locations statewide. Eligible projects include: • Multi-family residential dwellings (five units or more). • Public colleges/universities, non-profit colleges/universities, and public K-12 school districts. • Curbside Residential Program locations (excluding single stream). • Community events including, but not limited to, those sponsored by local jurisdictions. • Parks/recreational areas. • Purchase of water refill stations, including the installation, education and outreach, or replacement of infrastructure, plumbing, maintenance, additional attachments or modifications. • Purchase of mobile water trailer bars, including replacement of filters, maintenance, additional attachments or modifications, reusable cups utilized for the water trailer bars, and related educational and outreach activities/materials as eligible expenditures. • Litter reduction and clean-up along the United States-Mexico border where the waste stream includes beverage containers that will be recycled. o Out of State beverage containers collected as part of the litter abatement and clean-up projects cannot be funded under this grant program. Ongoing collection programs may include the following activities as a component of the grant project: • Temporary Community events (i.e., recycling or collection events sponsored by local jurisdictions, Earth Day events). • Drop-off, Collection Program, or Community Service Program. • Education and Outreach related to beverage container recycling. Note: Education activities and/or materials (signage, flyers, curriculum, etc.) related to the beverage container recycling project are capped at 25 percent of the total grant award. • Funding must have a direct connection to the California Redemption Value (CRV) of beverage containers and the overall program. If non-CRV items are included in the grant, they are subject to proportional cost. For example: a three-bin system with composting, paper and CRV recycling, can only be funded at one third of the cost. A mixed recycling bin will be funded proportionately based on the CRV content of materials collected. Priority funding will be given to Tribal Entities and applicants with litter abatement projects along the United States-Mexico border. Applicants who meet the criteria will be given priority and will be considered for funding first.

Topic areas: Circular Economy and Sustainability, Smart Cities, Public Policy and Governance.

Funding amount

This grant provides $75K-$275K in funding, up to $275K per award.

Deadline

Applications are due Aug 11, 2026. Confirm the exact closing time on the official program page before applying.

Who can apply

This opportunity is open to the following applicant types:

• Individuals
• NGOs
• Public Authorities

Eligibility

• California cities, counties, state agencies, and other local governmental entities. • Special districts (e.g., recreational park districts). • Public colleges and universities, and public K-12 school districts. • Non-profit organizations (except private schools K-12) registered with the federal government under 501(c)3, (c)6, or (c)10 of the Internal Revenue Code. • Qualifying Tribal Entities. • Joint Powers Authorities (JPA). California cities, counties, state agencies, and other local governmental entities.

Agency

Beverage Container Recycling Grant Program (Fiscal Years 2026-27 and 2027-28) is administered by Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (DRRR), listed via Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery.