The U.S. Department of Energy and the National Laboratory of the Rockies is accepting applications for the 2026 Waste to Energy and Materials Technical Assistance program, offering free support to evaluate how waste streams can be converted into valuable energy and material resources. The program considers a range of waste streams, including: 

• Organic wet waste such as food waste, wastewater sludge, animal manure, fats, oils, and greases. 

• Non recycled municipal solid waste such as paper, cardboard, tires, electronics, metal, and plastics. 

• Industrial waste and byproducts such as metallurgical residues, mining wastes, and wastewater streams. 

Townships can apply through May 30, 2026 to explore options such as on-site heat and power generation, conversion into transportation fuels, and material or mineral recovery. For more information, including webinars for local governments and frequently asked questions, visit the program page. Questions can be directed to wte.assist@nlr.gov.