Worker with logs in a wood recycling plant.gettyThe U.S Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $100,000 in small business innovation grants to encourage 24 companies to develop their ideas, such as repurposing waste, into green products.The $2.4 million in total grants were awarded Jan. 13 from EPAs Small Business Innovation Research program in a two-stage process to develop the first proof-of-concept phase to deploy their technology within six months. Upon successful completion of the initial stage, the companies can apply for up to $400,000 in Phase II grants to commercialize their technology."Congratulations to these small businesses for their dedication to driving innovation and tackling todays environmental challenges," said Maureen Gwinn, EPA acting Assistant administrator of the Office of Research and Development, stated in announcing the grants. "Their groundbreaking ideas not only address critical needs but also pave the way for a healthier planet and a stronger, more sustainable economy."The companies are located in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Texas, Washington and Wyoming.The funding is meant to spur small business products to the marketplace for innovative environmental technologies in:Air quality and climate,Clean and safe water,Homeland security,Land revitalization,Risk assessment,Safer chemicals,Sustainable materials management/circular economy.The companies also have the ability to receive $100,000 as a commercialization incentive from the EPA in the second phase of the grant program if they obtain a third-party investment. The SBIR was created to help fund and commercialize innovative green technologies to protect the environment.MORE FOR YOUOne company awarded the seed funding was Pacific Reclaimed Lumber & Supply of Sebastopol, Calif. will design a web-based platform to increase purchases of reclaimed lumber and building materials.The U.S. reclaimed lumber industry is poised to become an $11 billion industry by 2030, but could strive for a more ambitious goal with increased sales efficiency. The construction industry currently disposes of over 27 million tons of wood waste annually, much of which could be salvaged through deconstruction. Reclaimed lumber offers significant environmental benefits, reducing climate emissions by up to double compared to disposal, and sequestering embodied carbon for 50-100 years when reused. However, for the reclaimed lumber industry to meaningfully reduce national waste, it must scale up operations and sales. A key step will be making reclaimed lumber inventories more accessible online, which is currently a challenge, stated the grant proposal.Relief-cast terracotta tiles in a salvage yard. Getty ImagesA Florida flooring and construction company called Nativo Inc. of Pompano Beach will use the grant to apply a new technology to remove installed ceramic tiles without damaging them through vibration technology. The innovative method would enable ceramic tiles to be reused or salvaged from floors.Boulder, Colo.-based PAGE Technologies Inc. intends to develop chemical sensors that can be deployed directly into the environment for real-time measurement for water monitoring.. The companys development of low-cost, handheld printable sensors for water quality monitoring will deliver an innovative, new tool for safeguarding water quality and public health, stated an EPA spokesperson in a statement about the grant.Fabric rolls inside a sustainable workshop.gettyIn Hull, Georgia, EcoaTEX LLC plans use the EPA grantCommercial potential for this technology is vast, particularly within the textile industry, where there is an increasing demand for sustainable materials. By converting agricultural waste into valuable fibers, EcoaTEX not only offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional fibers but also supports local economies by providing farmers with a sustainable outlet for their waste. This approach not only helps farmers economically but also prevents the environmental damage associated with traditional waste disposal methods, according to the grant proposal.