The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) Division of Land Protection, Materials Management Program, is accepting grant applications from municipalities, counties, and other eligible entities across the state. The program helps local governments divert more waste from landfills, upgrade infrastructure, and give residents convenient ways to participate in recycling.
Hurricane Helene relief funding: The EPA awarded $5,000,000 for solid waste, recycling, and debris management across all 14 East Tennessee counties affected by the Major Disaster Declaration. Applications closed March 23, 2026. Award letters will be delivered in April.
Technical Assistance grants — which fund Development Districts to offer free support with annual solid waste reporting and grant activities — have also closed. The next grant cycle opens July 1, 2026.
Recycling's reach extends beyond households: manufacturers across Tennessee depend on locally collected materials as inputs to their production processes, making these grants a statewide economic matter as well as an environmental one.
2026 Grant Calendar
| Grant | Opens | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Convenience Center Grant | July 1, 2026 | July 30, 2026 — 3:30 p.m. CST |
| Used Oil Grant | July 1, 2026 | July 30, 2026 — 3:30 p.m. CST |
| Household Hazardous Waste Grant | Sept. 7, 2026 | Oct. 15, 2026 — 3:30 p.m. CST |
| Recycling Equipment Grant | Sept. 7, 2026 | Oct. 15, 2026 — 3:30 p.m. CST |
| Recycling Rebates (top 5 counties) | Sept. 7, 2026 | Oct. 15, 2026 — 3:30 p.m. CST |
All applications are submitted through TDEC's online Grants Management System (GMS). Used Oil grants are authorized under the Used Oil Collection Act of 1993 and funded by the Used Oil Collection Fund, which is sustained by a fee on every quart of oil sold in Tennessee.
For full program details and to apply, visit Grants Administration (tn.gov).