NEW MEXICO — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded more than $2.1 million to two New Mexico pueblos to expand recycling and waste management programs aimed at reducing landfill use and improving environmental sustainability.
The funding comes through the EPA’s Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) Grant Program, which supports local efforts to strengthen recycling systems and divert waste from landfills.
The Pueblo of Isleta will receive $1.5 million to expand its recycling program and create facilities capable of accepting large materials, including construction and demolition debris and green waste. The project includes the installation of three tipping stations and a sorting pad on an eight-acre site adjacent to the pueblo’s transfer station. Officials said the project will also include an education and outreach campaign focused on recycling practices and environmental stewardship.
The Pueblo de Cochiti will receive $640,994 to establish a centralized composting program designed to divert food waste, yard trimmings, and other organic materials from landfills and burn piles. Funding will be used for composting infrastructure, collection containers, processing areas, and equipment needed to operate the program.
Federal officials say the projects are intended to improve waste management, reduce pressure on landfill capacity, create local jobs, and support long-term environmental goals in tribal communities.
The grants are part of a broader federal effort to strengthen recycling infrastructure and improve solid waste management systems across the country.
