(a) The following types of entities are eligible to apply for recycling and e-waste funding under the programs explained within this part:

1. (1) Cities and counties;
2. (2) Other state or local governmental entities;
3. (3) Schools, colleges, universities, or other educational institutions; and
4. (4) Nonprofit organizations or associations.

(b) The Southwest Arkansas Regional Solid Waste Management District Board may consider at its sole discretion the project’s relative benefit in relation to the needs of the:

1. (1) Geographical area; and
2. (2) Other proposed projects and applicants.

(c)

1. (1) The following types of expenditures are potentially eligible for funding under the programs encompassed by this part:

   1. (A)

(i) Solid waste planning.

1. (ii) Planning studies are potentially eligible for funding if an applicant’s proposed study meets the solid waste planning requirements of:

(b) (b) Arkansas Code § 8-6-1901 et seq.;

1. (c) (c) Solid Waste Management Rules, 8 CAR pt. 60; and

   1. (d) (d) The minimum requirements for regional solid waste management district plans as set forth in the current statewide Solid Waste Management Plan.

      1. (iii) The funded planning study must:

(b) (b) Set out methods for increasing recycling in the study area.

1. (iv) Only first-year costs for planning staff are eligible.

   1. (v) Boards may expend an amount equal to no more than ten percent (10%) of their administrative allocation for plan updates;

   2. (B)

      1. (i) Recycling or composting equipment and material recovery facilities.
      2. (ii) Recycling and composting equipment and recycling and composting facilities are potentially eligible for funding if existing facilities and equipment do not provide adequate and efficient service for the project area.
      3. (iii) The equipment and facilities must meet the objectives of the applicable solid waste management plan for recycling equipment and facilities.
      4. (iv) The facilities and equipment must be used no less than fifty percent (50%) of the time for recycling activities or other grant-funded projects.
      5. (v) Applicants shall provide information that reasonably demonstrates that existing mechanical processing equipment or facilities are not serving or could not serve the relevant geographical area;

   3. (C)

      1. (i) Solid waste education and public awareness programs.
      2. (ii) Education and public awareness activities and materials are potentially eligible if, in accordance with the legislative intent of the Solid Waste Management and Recycling Fund Act, Arkansas Code § 8-6-601 et seq., they are part of a plan for introducing or promoting recycling, composting, or other solid waste management practices that:

(b) (b) Encourage waste reduction; and/or

1. (c) (c) Stimulate demand for products produced from recycled materials;

   1. (D)

      1. (i) Transfer stations.
      2. (ii) Waste transfer stations which accept three (3) or more recyclable materials, as identified in Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission, 8 CAR pt. 63, are potentially eligible for funding;

   2. (E)

      1. (i) Recycling programs.
      2. (ii) Recycling activities that meet the intent and requirements of the Solid Waste Management and Recycling Fund Act;

   3. (F)

      1. (i) Waste reduction activities.
      2. (ii) Other waste stream reduction activities that divert the flow of materials away from landfills for beneficial use are potentially eligible for funding;

   4. (G)

      1. (i) Collection, transportation, or processing.
      2. (ii) Marketing, development, and implementation of the most efficient and convenient means of collecting, transporting, and processing discarded and scrap electronic equipment from residents and businesses are potentially eligible for funding;

   5. (H)

      1. (i) Local or statewide recycling and demanufacturing.
      2. (ii) Establish statewide, regional, or local contracts for computer electronics recycling and demanufacturing businesses with an emphasis on rural and economically challenged or impoverished areas are potentially eligible for funding;

   6. (I)

      1. (i) Innovative recycling, donation, demanufacturing, or disposal.
      2. (ii) Other innovative measures that implement and promote the recycling, donation, demanufacturing, or disposal options for computers and electronic equipment in a convenient manner for citizens and businesses of Arkansas are potentially eligible for funding;

   7. (J)

      1. (i) Computer and electronic equipment transportation cost.
      2. (ii) Cost incurred transporting computer or electronic equipment for the purpose of recycling or reuse are potentially eligible for funding.
      3. (iii) Funds may be used to pay a contractor or local or district transporter;

   8. (K)

      1. (i) Contractual services.
      2. (ii) Cost incurred for services contracted outside of the district or local facility for management of computer and electronic equipment collection, processing, or transportation are potentially eligible for funding; and

   9. (L)

      1. (i) Administration of the recycling program.
      2. (ii) The Southwest Arkansas Regional Solid Waste Management District collects ten percent (10%) of the recycling funds made available for funding each year.
      3. (iii)

(b) (b) This contract currently is not to exceed eighty-five thousand dollars ($85,000) yearly.

1. (2) Only reasonable costs are potentially eligible to be funded.

   1. (d)
2. (1) The following types of expenditures are not eligible for funding under the recycling and e-waste programs encompassed by this part.

3. (2) They include but are not limited to:

   1. (A)

      1. (i) Administrative costs.
      2. (ii) With the exception of administration funds collected by the district for administration of the recycling program, funding assistance shall not be used for costs that:

(b) (b) Have not received written approval from the board as specifically attributable to an approved project.

1. (iii) Examples of ineligible administrative expenditures include, but are limited to:

(b) (b) Land acquisition, unless part of a building acquisition;

1. (c) (c) Equipment used to service eligible facilities or equipment;

   1. (d) (d) Service contracts;

(g) (g) Food;

1. (B)

   1. (i) Activities that are not considered recycling.

      1. (ii) The board shall not approve projects that are not recycling or waste reduction projects.
      2. (iii) Examples include but are not limited to roads/streets, graders, dump trucks, use of recyclables or solid waste as fill material, etc.;

   2. (C)

      1. (i) Routine activities.
      2. (ii) Funding assistance shall not be provided to perform routine maintenance and monitoring activities or other services or actions which are provided or should be provided in the normal course of a solid waste management system, plan, or effort by an applicant for funding;

   3. (D)

      1. (i) Existing equipment or facilities.
      2. (ii) Funding assistance shall not be provided for purchasing mechanical processing equipment or facilities if existing mechanical processing equipment or facilities already efficiently and adequately serves the relevant area.
      3. (iii) This prohibition may not be applicable to equipment or facility that the board determines to be an indispensable component to an otherwise eligible project and would more efficiently serve the relevant area and/or increase recycling or waste reduction; and
   4. (E) Facilities or equipment that violate or would violate applicable federal, Arkansas, or local statutes, ordinances, or regulations.