The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) is accepting FY2027 Recycling and Waste Diversion (RWD) Grant applications through September 30, 2026. The program supports projects that reduce solid waste in Georgia, recover valuable materials, support manufacturing, and encourage innovation.
Funding and match
EPD states that eligible applicants may request any amount up to the maximum available in the current cycle and that awarded grant funds may pay up to 100% of project costs, subject to available funding. EPD may make partial awards. The current public FY2027 materials do not publish a numerical per-project cap or total FY2027 funding pool. Matching is not required, but any voluntary match must be documented.
Eligibility
Eligible applicants are Georgia counties, municipalities, combinations of local governments, and public authorities, agencies, commissions, or institutions. Nonprofit and private organizations are not eligible. Local governments must have Qualified Local Government status on the application date. Applicants subject to an open EPD consent order or other EPD enforcement action are not eligible, and prior grantees with unsuccessful grant administration may be deemed ineligible.
Competitive project focus
Competitive projects must focus on increasing recycling, reducing waste, or diverting recoverable materials. EPD gives examples including recycling equipment and infrastructure, hub-and-spoke systems, hard-to-recycle and household-hazardous-waste collection, new material streams, curbside or drop-off expansion, and innovative local waste-diversion approaches. Primary education-only projects, reimbursement for pre-award work, and landfill-capacity projects without recycling or diversion are ineligible.
Scoring and competitiveness
EPD’s FY2027 rubric scores how well an application demonstrates community need and project purpose, SMART objectives, quantifiable metrics, the method used to identify and apply those metrics, evidence that the metrics will show increased recycling or diversion, a precise description of the amount requested and use of funds, sustainability after state funding ends, a robust implementation timeline, and a clear coherent budget. Cost-effectiveness is scored separately. The weight or volume of material recycled or diverted is the required primary metric.
Two explicit bonus opportunities are especially important: a qualifying joint project involving at least two eligible applicants can receive 5 bonus points, and documented use of Georgia-based suppliers for products and/or services can receive 5 bonus points.
Application and supporting materials
Applications must be submitted through the SWTF Grant Program Administration Portal; email submissions are not accepted. Required supporting materials include a completed W-9 for the applicant entity, a state contractor affidavit dated within the last 12 months, and quotes or other cost-estimate documentation supporting every budget line item. Applicants must designate a Primary Grant Administrator and a Responsible Official. The Primary Grant Administrator controls the applicant’s Portal account and submission process.
EPD anticipates grant execution around March 2027. Reimbursable activities and expenses must occur after execution of the grant agreement and generally within 24 months. Purchases must follow the awardee’s procurement requirements and policy. Grant funds are normally reimbursement-based, although an applicant needing advance funds may contact program staff before submission and must provide justification.
Deadline control
The official FY2027 page and guidance list September 30, 2026 as the application submission deadline. As of September 22, 2026, those controlling public materials do not publish an exact closing clock time or deadline-specific time zone, so Atlas is not inferring either.
Atlas assessment
Atlas Opportunity Score: 80/100. N9+ Fit: 0/100. QC Healthcare Fit: 0/100. This is a strong Georgia public-sector recycling and infrastructure opportunity when an applicant has a measurable, implementation-ready diversion project. Ordinary healthcare technology should not be forced into this program.