Section 324.19114 - Composting operational grant program(1) The department shall establish a composting operational grant program. The program shall provide temporary operating subsidies to assist municipalities, nonprofit private entities, and private entities in undertaking composting projects. The department shall make the grants described in this section.(2) The department shall not make a composting operational grant unless all of the following conditions are met: (a) The proposed composting project is located in a county with an approved solid waste management plan.(b) The proposed composting project is consistent with the approved solid waste management plan.(c) A positive feasibility study of the proposed composting project, or sufficient data justifying project expansion, is available.(d) The applicant agrees to match the grant on a dollar for dollar basis.(e) The applicant agrees to provide the department with an annual operation report.(3) The department shall consider the following factors in determining whether to make a composting operational grant:(a) The portion of the waste stream projected to be diverted from a landfill, compared to projected costs.(b) A demonstration by the applicant that land, buildings, personnel, support services, or funds have been committed to the composting project.(c) The applicant's willingness to show others the program.(d) The potential of the composting project to be replicated in similar areas of the state.(e) The extent to which selection of the project contributes to the achievement of a balanced distribution of grants throughout the state.(f) The demonstrated municipality, community group, or volunteer interest in undertaking a composting project.(g) The demonstrated capability in working with adjacent municipalities on alternative resource recovery projects, such as development of a regional resource recovery organization, jointly sponsored resource recovery initiatives, or regional materials marketing strategies.(h) The availability of capacity at existing licensed landfills that serve the area to be served by the proposed composting project.(i) A plan for transferring financial responsibility for the program to another funding source has been developed.(j) The sources of capital funding for the project.(4) The department shall not dispense a composting operational grant unless all the permits that are required by this part and otherwise required by state law and that are specifically applicable to the nature of the proposed project have been obtained.(5) The department shall not expend more than 5% of the total amount in the fund in any state fiscal year for the composting operational grant program. The department shall not expend more than $150,000.00 for any single composting operational grant made under this section.1994, Act 451, Eff. 3/30/1995 .