EPA Selects Recipient for Source Reduction Assistance Grant in Savannah, Georgia

EPA Selects Recipient for Source Reduction Assistance Grant in Savannah, Georgia

December 2, 2024

SAVANNAH, Ga. (December 2, 2024) - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Perpetual Use, Inc. as the recipient of a $191,801 Source Reduction Assistance (SRA) grant to support an existing project to design and implement a city-scale reusable food ware system in Savannah, Georgia.

Source reduction, also known as pollution prevention (P2), is any practice that reduces, eliminates, or prevents pollution at its source before it is created. Source reduction activities can lessen exposure to toxic chemicals, conserve natural resources, improve environmental conditions in and around disadvantaged communities, and reduce financial costs for businesses.

The Perpetual Use, Inc. project will help alleviate the waste generation crisis stemming from single-use food ware. The system would provide "food ware as a service" to foodservice establishments to replace single use food ware, such as cups and takeout containers. Customers will be able to return reuseable products to collection bins, where they will be cleaned, inspected, and repacked before being redistributed.

"Pollution prevention practices are an important, cost-effective strategy to protect communities and the environment by helping businesses prevent pollution before it's even created," said Acting Region 4 Administrator Jeaneanne Gettle. "Thanks to the historic investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA is helping to spur economic growth by expanding and accelerating the practices that are win-wins for human health, the environment and American businesses." 

This grant funding opportunity was competitively available to non-profit organizations, Tribes, and state and local governments within EPA Regions 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 and 10 to advance innovative, cost-effective and replicable source reduction approaches. Applicants were required to propose projects that involved working in one or more of the four priorities identified in the funding opportunity: prevention of greenhouse gas emissions; reduced generation and use of hazardous materials; innovative approaches to conservation of materials and natural resources such as water or energy; and supporting environmental justice for underserved communities through P2 actions.

Read more about Pollution Preventionand the P2 grant programs.

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