[SPN-Discussion] Request for Proposals Research in Sustainable Solid Waste Management

[Sarah Bloomquist]

http://erefdn.org/index.php/grants/proposal

*Background*
The sustainability movement has reached the business models of nearly every
industry in the United States, and many companies, municipalities and
states have set aggressive sustainability goals that include how waste
stream are being managed.  The EREF Board of Directors has set an
initiative to ensure research funded reflects EREF’s long-term strategic
plan to address all areas of integrated solid waste management, with a
strong focus towards research that increased sustainable solid waste
management practices.

EREF is an IRS 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and is one of the largest
sources of funding for solid waste research in North America.  EREF is not
affiliated with any other entity or group and governed by a duly elected
Board of Directors.  The Board of Directors is the decision-making body
that has responsibility for establishing policies that define program
interests and fundamental objectives to be served by the Foundation.


*Definition of Solid Waste Used in this RFP*
It should be noted that EREF defines solid waste to include:

   - municipal solid waste (e.g. residential, commercial, institutional)
   - construction & demolition debris
   - certain industrial wastes (e.g. exploration & production waste, coal
   ash) and
   - other wastes typically managed by the solid waste industry or
   generated by the public not included in the above items (e.g. electronic
   waste, disaster debris, etc).

Agricultural wastes (that aren’t handled by the waste industry), nuclear
waste, and land applied wastewater treatment sludge are generally not
included in this definition.


*Pre-Proposal Process for Proposal Submission*
Pre-proposals are now REQUIRED prior to submitting a full proposal using
the template provided
<http://erefdn.org/images/uploads/EREF_Pre-proposal_Template.docx>. All
pre-proposals must adhere to the criteria noted and be submitted by the
established deadlines.  Pre-proposals submitted in response to this RFP
that do not fit within the topic areas noted will not be reviewed.

*Research Topic Areas*
Pre-proposal topics must relate to sustainable solid waste management
practices and pertain to the following topic areas:

   1. Waste minimization
   2. Recycling
   3. Waste conversion to energy, biofuels, chemicals or other useful
   products.  This includes, but is not limited to, the following
   technologies:
      - Waste-to-energy
      - Anaerobic digestion
      - Composting
      - Other thermal or biological conversion technologies
   4. Strategies to promote diversion to higher and better uses (e.g.
   organics diversion, market analysis, optimized material management,
   logistics, etc.)
   5. Landfilling

Desirable aspects of the above topics, in addition to or as part of
hypothesis driven applied research, also include: economic or cost/benefit
analyses, feasibility studies for untested technologies or management
strategies, life cycle analysis or inventory, and analyses of policies that
relate to the above.

*Invitation to Submit Full Proposals*
Upon submission, pre-proposals will be examined by a selection committee
and successful pre-proposals will be invited to submit a full proposal for
consideration.  Full proposals will then be subjected to EREF’s review
process, as described later in this document.


*Topics Requiring Approval Prior to Pre-Proposal Submission*
There are a number of topics that may require approval before a
pre-proposal will be considered.  Investigators who would like to propose a
research topic where the primary objectives relate to the areas listed
below should contact EREF to discuss the topic prior to submitting a
pre-proposal. To do this, please email a description of the proposed
research that is 1-page or less to proposals at erefdn.org that requests
review of the concept.  This request should be made 2 weeks or more in
advance of any pre-proposal deadline.  If necessary, or upon request, the
concept can be discussed via phone as well.

*List of Topics Requiring Approval*

   - Development of life-cycle/process models to evaluate solid waste
   - Evaluating specific applications of pyrolysis/gasification to manage
   niche/minor waste streams
   - Development of specific gasification/pyrolysis techniques or
   technologies
   - Using algae to create biofuels from waste




*Typical Award Amount and Project Duration...... [see site for rest]*
-Sarah Bloomquist
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