The proposed bill establishes the School Plastics Upcycling Grant Program within the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to financially support eligible schools based on the amount of plastics they collect for upcycling. The program will allocate $5 million in grant funding, distributed proportionally to schools according to their collected plastics. Schools that participate in plastic collection activities during the previous school year can apply for grants to purchase school-appropriate furnishings produced by authorized upcyclers. The program will operate on a pilot basis for three years, after which the commissioner may recommend its continuation based on an effectiveness evaluation report.

To qualify for grants, schools must demonstrate their participation in plastic collection and commitment to donating collected plastics to authorized upcyclers. The bill outlines the application process, requiring schools to provide information on the types and amounts of plastics collected and the furnishings they wish to acquire. Grant funds must be used solely for eligible costs related to purchasing furnishings, with at least 80% allocated for this purpose and up to 20% for administrative costs. Schools can roll over unspent funds for future use and must submit annual reports detailing expenditures and outcomes of their upcycling efforts. The commissioner will also adopt necessary rules and regulations for program implementation and provide annual evaluations to the Governor and Legislature.