COLUMBUS, Ohio — County and local governments across Ohio can now apply for state grants to clean up illegal dump sites and prevent future dumping.
The program, funded by $1 million in legal settlement money negotiated by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, offers grants of up to $100,000 to cover the cost of cleaning up existing solid waste or construction and demolition debris dump sites. Governments can also apply for up to $20,000 to purchase signs, gates, barriers, or other structures to deter future illegal dumping.
The program is open to county and local governments and will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. The application window runs from April 22 through July 31, 2026, with grants being reviewed and awarded during that same period. Any activities funded by the grants must be completed within 12 months of the agreement start date.
Priority will be given to applicants who have no other available resources or funding to address the dump site, whose sites are a nuisance or blight to the community, whose sites are located in residential areas or pose an environmental threat, and whose sites are located on government-owned property.
Yost launched a similar $1 million grant program in 2025. The 2026 round represents a continuation of that effort, which the attorney general’s office describes as part of a broader push to address illegal dumping in communities ranging from major cities to rural villages across Ohio.
Local governments interested in applying can find the appl
