Pollution Prevention (P2) Grants Program
On this page:
- Background
- Eligibility
- Available Technical Assistance
- Connections to Other EPA, Federal or Non-Governmental Efforts
Background
The Pollution Prevention Grants Program funds state and Tribal programs to provide technical assistance to businesses to help them develop and adopt source reduction practices — also known as pollution prevention or P2. These practices aim to reduce or eliminate the use and release of hazardous substances, water, energy and other raw materials, thereby also reducing business costs. The goal of these grants is to assist businesses in adopting practices that preempt pollution — effectively reducing or eliminating pollutants before they enter any waste stream or the environment. Although the program is not designed to specifically address adaptation or resilience practices, participating businesses are more likely to navigate and withstand the challenges brought on by climate variability when they take substantial steps towards the reduction of water and energy consumption.
As part of the Justice40 Initiative, the Pollution Prevention Grants Program delivers substantial benefits to disadvantaged communities. For example, the Pollution Prevention Grant: Environmental Justice in Communities offers businesses technical support on P2 strategies to cut hazardous substance use, lower costs and enhance health and environmental outcomes in underserved areas.
EPA's Pollution Prevention Grants Program offers several funding opportunities:
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Pollution Prevention Grant: This grant provides states and Tribes with the means to offer technical assistance to businesses, helping them develop and implement P2 practices. The grant requires a 50% match and is available every two years. Federally recognized Tribes and intertribal consortia that receive a P2 grant award and place the approved workplan into a performance partnership agreement will have their cost share/match requirement reduced from 50% to zero percent.
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Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Pollution Prevention Grant: This grant supports states and Tribes in offering businesses technical assistance for P2 practices, funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This grant does not have a match requirement and is available every two years.
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Pollution Prevention Grant - Environmental Justice in Communities: This grant provides states and Tribes with the means to offer technical assistance to businesses, focusing on improving human health and the environment in disadvantaged communities. This grant does not have a match requirement and is available every two years.
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Pollution Prevention Grant - Environmental Justice Through Safer and More Sustainable Products: This grant encourages heightened supply, demand and use of safer and more sustainable products, including those certified by EPA's Safer Choice label. This grant does not have a match requirement and is available every two years.
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Reducing Embodied Greenhouse Gas Emissions for Construction Materials and Products: This grant supports businesses that manufacture construction materials and products to develop and verify Environmental Product Declarations, as well as states, Tribes and nonprofit organizations that support such businesses. This grant does not have a match requirement.
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Source Reduction Assistance Grant: This grant funds projects that support the research, education and training of innovative source reduction techniques for states, Tribes, local governments and nonprofit organizations. This grant requires a 5% match and is available every two years.
Eligibility
Who is generally eligible to apply?
Each grant opportunity has its own applicant requirements. Those generally eligible to apply to the Pollution Prevention Grants include states, state entities (colleges and universities recognized as instrumentalities of the state), the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, any territory or possession of the U.S., and federally recognized Tribes and intertribal consortia. For specific details on eligibilities, applicant requirements and sub-award requirements, visit the Pollution Prevention Grants Program website and current or past Request for Applications /Notices of Funding Opportunity.
How can projects funded by this program incorporate adaptation and resilience considerations?
As the program assists the manufacturing and industrial sectors develop and adopt source reduction practice it can also help them prepare, adapt and build resilience to climate change impacts through the implementation of P2 practices. Examples of climate adaptation and resilience projects that could be supported by this program include helping businesses with developing more sustainable and resilient supply chains by identifying alternative materials, local sourcing options and efficient logistics practices and assisting small businesses in underserved communities to implement pollution prevention measures that also enhance community resilience.
Available Technical Assistance
- The Pollution Prevention Grants Program provides a variety of resources and technical assistance, including Steps to Take Before Applying for a P2 Grant, which includes P2 Grant Webinars and Grant Writing Tips. The EPA Grants Community Library of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) can help guide applicants through questions about budget, cost and more.
- The P2 EJ Facility Mapping Tool allows users to identify industrial facilities located in or adjacent to communities with environmental justice concerns.
- Measuring Pollution Prevention webpage is a resource that illustrates the results of completed P2 technical assistance or training efforts. By publicly sharing these results, EPA intends to increase awareness of P2 practices and increase knowledge on how to implement those practices.
Additional resources to support that effort include Collecting and Reporting P2 Results: Regional P2 Measurement Guidance and Reporting Templates/Resources.
Connections to Other EPA, Federal or Non-Governmental Efforts
Support offered by the following programs can be used in combination with the Pollution Prevention Grants Program to reduce or eliminate the use and release of hazardous substances, water and energy.
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Federal Buy Clean Initiative: The Biden-Harris Administration launched the Federal Buy Clean Initiative to help achieve net zero emissions for the federal government by 2050. The Initiative leverages federal procurement and funding to catalyze markets for American-made lower embodied carbon construction materials while making historic investments to upgrade U.S. transportation, buildings and energy infrastructure.
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Green Chemistry Challenge Awards: EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention sponsors the Green Chemistry Challenge Awards in partnership with the American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute and other members of the chemical community. The Green Chemistry Challenge Awards promote the environmental and economic benefits of developing and using novel green chemistry. These annual awards recognize chemical technologies that incorporate the principles of green chemistry into chemical design, manufacturing and use.