The confirmation sees the second such grant paid out to Welsh councils, following a 21m grant paid out in 2003-04 (see letsrecycle.com story).
Welsh environment minister Carwyn Jones said that similar grants would also be paid out to improve re-use, recycling or composting in 2005-06 and 2006-07, allowing councils to plan ahead.
Councils will receive a share of the funding based on its spending needs gauged by the Standard Spending Assessment.
The funding forms part of the Welsh Assembly government's strategy to recycle and compost 40% of municipal waste by 2009-10. At the moment, around 93% of Welsh municipal waste goes to landfill.
Mr Jones said: “Today's announcement that the grant for 2004-05 will total 21m will allow local authorities to build on the work being done to develop more sustainable ways of dealing with waste.”
Mr Jones said the money would also be used to strengthen markets for recycled materials. He said eight Welsh authorities have already announced that they have met their 2003-04 target of 15% recycling and composting, and he expected all “but a few” to reach or exceed their targets this year.
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