NCDEQ opens $18 million grant program for Helene debris cleanup
RALEIGH — The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality is accepting applications for a new $18 million grant program to help Western North Carolina communities continue debris cleanup from Hurricane Helene.
The Debris Recovery & Disposal grant program is administered by DEQ’s Division of Waste Management and funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through the American Relief Act of 2025, according to the department.
Eligible applicants include counties, municipalities, councils of government and nongovernmental organizations in FEMA-declared disaster counties damaged by Hurricane Helene. Nongovernmental organizations may receive up to $5 million of the available funding, while the maximum award is $3 million. No match is required.
DEQ said the application period is open through Sept. 14, and projects may run for up to three years.
Eligible projects may include collection and disposal of nonhazardous debris from private or public property; clearing and management of debris from streambanks, floodplains, farmland and local parks; and debris removal intended to improve the resiliency of solid waste and recycling infrastructure.
The department said funds may not be used for costs unrelated to Helene debris, including employee salaries, overhead, utility costs or payment for other contracted cleanup or disposal services.
“Hurricane Helene produced mountains of debris that blocked roadways, clogged streams, and created long-lasting eyesores,” DEQ Secretary Reid Wilson said in the release. “These grants will help communities clean up debris on public and private land, streambanks, farmland, local parks and other areas.”
Division of Waste Management Director Michael Scott said the grants may also support other resiliency initiatives across the region involving solid waste and recycling infrastructure.
Applicants are encouraged to contact DEQ staff before applying to discuss project eligibility. Proposals will be accepted on a rolling basis through Sept. 14.
The grant program is one of several state and federal efforts aimed at long-term recovery in Western North Carolina after Helene, including debris removal, infrastructure restoration and resilience planning.
Editor’s note: This article was drafted with the assistance of artificial intelligence and was reviewed and fact-checked by a member of the NC Political News editorial team before publication.
