REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
AND RECORD OF ACTION
November 17, 2026
FROM
DAN MUNSEY, Fire Chief/Fire Warden, San Bernardino County Fire Protection District
SUBJECT
Title
California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery Grant Award for the Household Hazardous Waste Program
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Acting as the governing body of the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District:
1. Accept and approve the Fiscal Year 2026 Household Hazardous Waste Grant Program - Small Projects Cycle Grant HD 46 award (No. HD46-26-0015), from the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, in the amount of $50,000, to fund the expansion of San Bernardino County Fire Protection District’s Household Hazardous Waste management, supporting projects that enhance safe collection, public education, and proper disposal of hazardous waste, with a grant performance effective from the Notice to Proceed date through January 31, 2030.
2. Authorize the Fire Chief/Fire Warden and the Deputy Fire Chief, on behalf of the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District, to take the following actions related to the grant award:
a. Execute and file documents with the California Department of Resources, Recycling and Recovery for acceptance of the grant award.
b. Serve as the authorized signatories for grant reimbursement claims, performance reports, and other documents required to administer the grant award.
c. Execute any non-substantive grant amendments and/or amendments to extend the grant award/performance timelines, subject to review by County Counsel.
d. Direct the Fire Chief/Fire Warden or the Deputy Fire Chief to transmit any amendments to the grant award to the Secretary of the Board of Directors within 30 days of execution.
(Presenter: Dan Munsey, Fire Chief/Fire Warden, 387-5779)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Foster Sustainable Development Through Strategic Partnerships.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of the recommendations will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). Acceptance of the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery’s (CalRecycle) Fiscal Year 2026 Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Grant Program - Small Projects Cycle Grant HD46 (HD46 Grant), in the amount of $50,000, does not require matching funds. San Bernardino County Fire Protection District (SBCFPD) will utilize the grant funds to support collection and disposal costs associated with high-wattage lithium-ion, damaged, defective, or recalled batteries (DDR), and procure specialized storage kits for HHW facilities, and conduct multilingual community outreach and education. No budget adjustments are required at this time but will be presented to the Board of Directors (Board) at a future date, if needed.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
CalRecycle annually offers funding opportunities to assist public and private entities in the safe and effective management of the waste stream. SBCFPD typically applies for these funds to support its countywide HHW Program. The program provides full-service activities that include collection, packaging, transportation, reuse, recycling, and environmentally safe disposal of hazardous waste, as well as public education and outreach.
On March 15, 2022 (Item No. 56), the Board adopted Resolution No. 2022-50 (Resolution) authorizing the SBCFPD Fire Chief/Fire Warden to sign and submit grant and payment program applications and any non-substantive application amendments, subject to review by County Counsel, for a period of five years. The five-year resolution provides authorization for SBCFPD to submit for any CalRecycle HHW grant application for which SBCFPD is eligible for funding.
On August 26, 2025, the SBCFPD Fire Chief/Fire Warden submitted a grant application to CalRecycle in accordance with the Resolution. The application requested support to expand SBCFPD’s HHW Program services to safely collect and manage high-wattage lithium-ion batteries (excluding car batteries), and DDR batteries at HHW collection facilities throughout the county. These batteries present increasing fire, health, and environmental risks and SBCFPD’s HHW is currently unable to accept them due to high disposal costs and the need for specialized storage containers.
On January 5, 2026, CalRecycle notified SBCFPD that its application was selected for a $50,000 award under the HD46 Grant. Funding for HD46 grant awards is provided through CalRecycle’s Fiscal Year 2026-27 allocation. The performance period of this grant is effective from the Notice to Proceed date through January 31, 2030.
SBCFPD is requesting a delegation of authority to execute documents related to the grant award, submittal of the required periodic reports, and, if necessary, execute any non-substantive grant amendments and/or extensions to the grant award or performance timelines, subject to review by County Counsel.
SBCFPD has a longstanding history of successful participation in CalRecycle HHW grant programs. The grant will directly support SBCFPD’s continued efforts to reduce battery-related fire risks, protect public health and safety, and strengthen the County’s overall HHW Program.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Aaron Gest, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on October 22, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Matthew Dalton, Administrative Analyst, 387-5005) on October 28, 2026.