(b) The board shall review and prioritize each recycling grant application based on the following criteria in descending order:

1. (1)

   1. (A) Expansion of recycling.
   2. (B) Priority will be given to those projects that seek to increase and/or expand the convenience and availability of recycling collection services and the types and volumes of materials collected using a regional approach to maximize efficiency;

2. (2)

   1. (A) Utilization of project.
   2. (B) Priority will be given to those projects which provide for the greatest utilization of project funded by grant funds.
   3. (C) Criteria will include ability for equipment to be used by multiple entities, number of days of use per year, population served by the project, and etc.;

3. (3)

   1. (A) Financial need.
   2. (B) Priority will be given to those projects for which existing revenues are insufficient to fund the proposed project.
   3. (C) The applicant’s ability to maintain the project and to provide in-kind contributions to the project will also be considered by the Grant Committee;

4. (4)

   1. (A) Prior grant history.
   2. (B) Priority will be given to those eligible entities which have not received recycling grant funds during the previous two (2) grant rounds;

5. (5)

   1. (A) Diversion rate.
   2. (B) Priority will be given to those projects which provide for the greatest percentage and/or volume of diversion of material from landfill disposal based on the waste generation estimates for the population served by the project;

6. (6)

   1. (A) Public awareness plan.
   2. (B) Priority will be given to those projects which demonstrate a comprehensive public awareness plan to promote the proposed project; and

7. (7)

   1. (A) Compliance with reporting.
   2. (B) Priority will be given to those entities which have complied fully with all reporting requirements on previous grants.