# Proof of Concept for Smart Sensors to Reduce Solid Waste

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/grants/w81ewf-22-soi-0014-proof-of-concept-for-smart-sensors-to-reduce/  
Official notice: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/339493

> Engineer Research and Development Center offered grants of up to $200,000 to the applicants described in the notice. It expected to make one award worth $200,000 in total. Applications closed on June 13, 2022.

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Opportunity number | W81EWF-22-SOI-0014 |
| Agency | Engineer Research and Development Center |
| Status | Forecast |
| Deadline | June 13, 2022 |
| Award ceiling | $200,000 |
| Award floor | not stated |
| Expected awards | 1 |
| Total funding | $200,000 |
| Cost sharing | not required |
| Assistance Listings | 12.630 |

## Who can apply

- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

This opportunity is restricted to non-federal partners of the South Florida – Caribbean Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit (CESU) and the Pacific Northwest Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit (CESU).

## What the grant funds

Background: Solid waste generated in the U. S. has nearly tripled since 1960, according to EPA data. Although recycling and composting are increasingly employed to keep waste from landfill, the U.S. still sends more to landfill each year and landfill space is limited. Source reduction is the most preferred method of waste management in the EPA’s Waste Management Hierarchy. Source reduction is also the most preferred method of waste management for the military (Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense. Memorandum. “Revision to the Department of Defense Integrated Solid Waste Management Metrics.” United States Army Regulations, March 16, 2020.), but there is no standard method to measure source reduction (DoDI 4715.23). Currently, Installations must report diversion, a measure of waste that is not landfilled or incinerated divided by all waste generated On-Post. In other words, diversion is the percentage of actual waste generated that is reused, donated, recycled, composted, or sent to a waste-to-energy facility. Source reduction is a measure of the amount of reduced waste generation. Diversion is a metric that does not include any source reduction. Smart sensors would allow for consistent data collection of current trends in solid waste generation and disposal. The sensors would show changes over time. Initial data could be used as baseline data to measure changes over time, quantifying future source reduction. Furthermore, visual feedback could be used to nudge the Post population to waste less. Brief Description of Anticipated Work: The government seeks research and technical support for smart sensor design and fabrication of smart sensors to track real-time weights in interior waste containers at two (2) military Installations. Support is also sought for statistical analyses of data results. Study design and study sites will be decided based upon input from selected Installations, ERDC-CERL, Sponsoring Agency, and CESU partners. Details of primary tasks for Year 1 are as follows: Primary Task 1: Smart Sensor Design and Fabrication Sensors shall be able to collect real-time data on solid waste weight generation in interior waste containers and send that data to a sequestered data repository accessible to CERL researchers. Due to variability in container dimensions, sensors need a flexible design that can be tailored to each container. Sensors shall be fabricated by the awardee.

## Questions people ask

### Is W81EWF-22-SOI-0014 still open?

No. It closed on June 13, 2022. A newer notice is open: W912HZ26S0001, closes January 1, 2027 (55 days left).

### Who can apply for Proof of Concept for Smart Sensors to Reduce Solid Waste?

Engineer Research and Development Center accepted applications from the applicants described in the notice. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.

### What is the deadline for Proof of Concept for Smart Sensors to Reduce Solid Waste?

Closed June 13, 2022. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.

### How much funding is available?

Awards of up to $200,000 each. About $200,000 in total for one award.

### Who has won Basic, Applied, and Advanced Research in Science and Engineering grants before?

The largest recipients over five fiscal years were Battelle Memorial Institute, Msi Stem Research & Development Consortium, University of California San Diego. The program made 1,101 awards worth $1.3 billion in that time.