EREF: Research Grants on Solid Waste Management

Sponsor: The Environmental Research and Education Foundation (EREF)

The foundation awards several grants each year for research or education in topics pertaining with any aspect of solid waste management. Project topics could deal with any aspect of the following, but are not limited to:

- Waste generation rates and composition;

- Waste minimization;

- Collection and transport;

- Sorting, recycling, and remanufacture;

- Disposal options (e.g. landfilling or incineration);

- Waste or energy recovery (e.g., composting, landfill gas to energy);

- Innovations in collection and transportation equipment development;

- Employee health and safety;

- Sustainability of resources;

- Life-cycle assessment of waste management;

- Educating corporate customers in purchasing environmentally preferable waste services; and

- Development of high school and college educational programs.

Some of the funded research projects include:

$185,000 To URS Dames & Moore (United Kingdom) to research the regulatory, economic, and technical aspects of greenhouse gas emission reductions in the waste industry (2001). Copies of the project’s final report titled Greenhouse Gases in the Waste Management Industry are available by contacting EREF’s publication department at 703-299-5139 ext.10.

$140,625 To North Carolina State University (NCSU) to develop a global assessment of recycling policies and markets (2000). The NCS researchers collected and analyzed data from the United States, Europe, and Asia. Copies of the report titled Global Recycling Policy are available by contacting EREF’s publications department at 703-299-5139 ext.10.

$473,000 To R. W. Beck, Chartwell Information Publishers, and Ames Economic Associates for a nationwide study to assess the size of the waste industry (1998). Copies of the study titled Size of the United States Solid Waste Industry are available by contacting EREF’s publications department at 703-299-5139 ext. 10.

$158,000 To North Carolina State University (NCSU) to develop an economic model for recyclables (1998). Copies of the study titled An Assessment of Price Volatility in Recyclables Markets and Market Mechanisms to Stabilize Prices are available by contacting EREF’s publications department at 703-299-5139 ext. 10.

$80,000 To the Environmental Industry Associations (EIA) to develop a waste service industry ethics program (1998). Copies of Doing Our Best -- A Matter of Integrity are available by contacting EIA’s publications department at 202-244-4700.

Amount: $10,000 to $500,000

Deadline: Grant applications are accepted three times each year, coinciding with the meetings of the Board of Directors. The deadline for receiving applications will be two weeks previous to each meeting (meetings are usually held in April, August and December). Awards will be announced as soon as possible after the date of a committee meeting.

For further information, please visit: http://www.erefdn.org/guide.html