The California Department of Conservation can award up to $20 million annually for the next 5 years for projects that improve markets for beverage container materials (aluminum, glass and plastic).
This includes research and development (R&D) for technologies that improve the processing of materials, allow greater use of recycled material in products, or improve system efficiencies.
Past projects have included R&D for improved optical sorting of broken glass, identification of processing barriers and opportunities at material recovery facilities, chemical and engineering adjustments to allow greater use of mixed-color glass in industrial furnaces, and a process to break down polyethylene terephthalate into its chemical components for re-use as raw materials.
For more information on the current grant cycle and application, go to www.conservation.ca.gov and click on "grants," or call 916-323-5878.
