(a) From funds available from the solid waste management fund, the department shall award competitive grants for collection of household hazardous waste at a permanent site to municipalities with a population of one hundred thousand (100,000) or more in counties with a population of two hundred eighty-seven thousand seven hundred (287,700), or more, according to the 1980 federal census or any subsequent federal census, and to the municipalities or counties that are determined by the department to be the next largest in terms of population or level of participation, or both, in mobile household hazardous waste collection events.

(b) An eligible municipality or county may only receive one (1) grant for the establishment of a permanent household hazardous waste collection site; however, if funds are available from the solid waste management fund, the department may award a municipality or county that has established a permanent household hazardous waste collection site annual grants to assist the municipality or county in maintaining or operating, or both, the permanent household hazardous waste collection site.

(c) A municipality or county that receives a grant pursuant to this section shall allow all residents of the county in which the site is located to use the site on the same basis. The mobile household hazardous waste collection service authorized by § 68-211-829 shall not be provided in a county in which there is a permanent household hazardous waste collection site that was funded through a grant pursuant to this section.