Submit Public Comment: Priority Climate Action Plans Need Zero Waste Solutions

Climate Pollution Reduction (CPR) Grants need to fund distributed recycling and composting. Tell your state and local government to include zero-waste solutions and local composting in their Priority Climate Action Plans (PCAPs) today!

State and local government agencies are currently writing Priority Climate Action Plans (PCAPs) to reduce GHG emissions and other harmful pollutants. Only activities included in these plans will be eligible for billions in federal funding through EPA’s Climate Pollution Reduction (CPR) grants program. Submit public comments calling for the inclusion of Zero Waste solutions before the window closes! 

On this page:

• Step-by-step guidance to advocate in your state
• Step-by-step guidance to advocate in your locality
• Draft language to submit public comments 
• Our vision statement connecting waste to climate action

The CPR: Resuscitate the Climate – Stop Trashing It! campaign is a joint effort from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, Zero Waste USA, and the National Recycling Coalition. 

How To Support Equitable Climate Solutions

To Advocate in States

Step 1: Submit a public comment online, by email, or by joining a public planning event

• Option 1: Locate your state’s survey or website to submit public comments
  • See Columns J – L on this spreadsheet for website and survey information (created by Zero Food Waste Coalition)
  • If your state website is not located on the above resource
    • Check out this EPA resource with state websites, or
    • Google the state name or the state’s lead organization, along with keywords like “climate action plan” or “climate pollution reduction grants” or “CPRG”
• Option 2: If a state website is unavailable, reach out directly by emailing a public comment to the CPRG contact 
  • See Column H & Column I on this Spreadsheet (created by Zero Food Waste Coalition)

Step 2: Sign up to receive information and stay updated on priority climate action plans and CPRG grants 

• See Column M on this Spreadsheet (created by Zero Food Waste Coalition)
• State websites may also have links to subscribe

Step 3: Follow state social media pages to remain informed on available opportunities to participate

To Advocate Locally in MSAs

Step 1: Submit a public comment online, by email, or by joining a public planning event

• Option 1: Find the MSA website
  • See if your MSA website is on the “MSAs” tab of this spreadsheet
    • Visit the local website to identify opportunities to submit public comments, join public planning events, or find contact information to reach out directly
  • If your MSA website is not located on the above resource, google the region/city name or the lead organization, along with keywords like “climate action plan” or “climate pollution reduction grants” or “CPRG”
• Option 2: Locate Main Campaign Contact 
  • If there is no website or the website does not provide information to comment
    • Look up the lead organization for your MSA and the contact information here
    • Reach out directly to the contact person with comments

Step 2: Sign up to receive information and stay updated on priority climate action plans and CPRG grants 

• Websites may have links to subscribe (or you can sign up for your state’s updates)

Step 3: Follow MSAs and lead organizations on social media to remain informed on available opportunities to participate

Draft Language You Can Use in Public Comments

“As a concerned citizen of [INSERT STATE/LOCALITY], I urge you to prioritize a zero-waste framework embedding waste prevention, reuse, recycling, and composting strategies rooted in and serving local communities in your Priority Climate Action Plan. These efforts will protect the climate while enhancing social equity, economic opportunities, food systems resilience, and quality of life.   

Specific zero-waste and local composting measures to include in the Priority Climate Action Plan:

• Adopt zero-waste goals as a cross-cutting climate solution that builds equity and local economic development opportunities
• Acknowledge the importance of reducing waste and materials consumption to climate protection
• Support local decentralized food rescue and composting 
• Help urban and rural farmers in producing and utilizing compost
• Build an understanding of the connections of healthy soils to food system resilience
• Fund and contract with existing independent reuse, recycling, and composting enterprises
• Educate the public to reduce and conserve materials
• Embrace a transition from single-use to durable products
• Encourage reuse, repair, and repurpose projects
• Commit to closing any trash incinerators and stemming the flow of materials to landfills
• Promote reuse of building materials and reduce construction and demolition waste

Our Vision

Take a look at our vision statement highlighting the need for zero-waste goals and circular communities in climate action.