Sustainable Materials Recovery Grant Programs

A program of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, the Sustainable Materials Recovery Program (SMRP) offers grants in many categories to help improve recycling, composting, reuse and household waste diversion programs.  Over the past decade, the City of Malden has taken advantage of a number of opportunities provided by this program including the following:

Recycling Dividends Program(RDP)

Funds from RDP have helped Malden in many different areas of advancement in the materials recovery and recycling space.  It provides funding for the following:

• Waste Wizard Database - An online tool that allows residents to search on almost any material and then find out how to either reuse, recycle or properly dispose of it.
• Trash App - Coupled with the Waste Wizard Database, the Trash App is a quick and convenient way for residents to find out about Malden's solid waste program either by weekly collection reminders, specialty collection events, recycling events, service delays and other important information about our solid waste program. 
• Library of Things - Funding for a newly formed program run by the Malden Public Library.  You can now check out more than just books and other media at the library thanks to our Library of Things.  Electronics, household items, tools and more in a growing list available to library card holders.
  

Cart Grant

In 2021, the City of Malden switched its trash and recycling collection program to wheeled carts.  The Cart Grant funded Malden over $200,000 towards the purchase of our new carts.

Recycling Education

A program implemented first in 2021 to help our residents better understand how to properly use our recycling program has now grown into an annual program where workers go throughout the City looking for opportunities to educate residents on how to properly recycle.