BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WBKO) -Kentucky counties can now apply for grants of up to $4,000 to support cleaner communities through the removal, recycling and reuse of waste tires, according to state officials.
Application packets will be emailed to county judge-executives and solid waste coordinators, and are also available on the state’s Waste Tires webpage. Counties must apply for the Waste Tire Grants by June 7, 2026, and officials are encouraging counties to apply early to help ensure funding availability. The grants are funded through the Waste Tire Trust Fund.
The grant period runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. Eligible expenses include the actual costs of recycling or disposing of waste tires during that time. The state says labor and equipment costs are not eligible for reimbursement.
Counties must submit receipts with a close-out report form by July 15, 2027. No matching funds are required, and any unused grant funds must be returned to the Cabinet by July 31, 2027.
“Ensuring communities across Kentucky are kept safe and clean for the families that live there is our top priority,” said Derek Polly, manager of the Division of Waste Management’s Recycling and Local Assistance Branch. “These grants are an important tool to help counties tackle waste tire issues and make sure our neighborhoods remain safe and welcoming for everyone.”
State leaders point to past projects supported by the program. Last year, Gov. Andy Beshear announced $480,000 in tire recycling grants statewide, including efforts like the improvements at Owensboro’s Moreland Park, which added a 7,000-square-foot playground designed to be accessible for all ages and abilities while responsibly recycling waste tires.
Officials say about 86% of Kentucky counties receive and benefit from the grant program each year. Since the program began in 2013, more than 2.7 million tires have been recycled statewide—about 253,204 tires per year on average.
For more information, contact Jenny Carr at 502-782-4663 or jenny.carr@ky.gov
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