Topics Related to Waste Management

Pursuant to Section 205(j)/604(b) of the Clean Water Act, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources (DWR) is currently seeking proposals for water quality planning projects using federal fiscal year 2026 grant funds. Only Regional Councils of Government (COGs)/Regional Planning Organizations are eligible to apply for 205(j) grants, however, COGs may partner with any public or private sector organization to implement projects.

NCDEQ received grant funding from EPA to provide grants to local governments and NGOs in Western North Carolina to help communities shorten timeframes and/or fund remaining Hurricane Helene solid waste disaster debris clean-up and removal projects that are not covered by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or other funding sources.

The NC Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Waste Management (DWM) is now accepting applications for the Debris Recovery & Disposal (DRD) grant program, to help Western North Carolina communities clean up additional debris left by Hurricane Helene.  

Today North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Secretary Reid Wilson visited McDowell County to announce grants for 16 projects in western North Carolina designed to improve waste reduction infrastructure and debris management through the Helene Recovery Recycling Infrastructure (HRRI) grant program.