From funds available from the solid waste management fund established by § 68-211-821, the department may award matching grants to persons to promote the development of new technology for solid waste and recovered materials management, the use of solid waste as a fuel substitute, or innovative solid waste management infrastructure development. Such matching grants shall be made on a competitive basis with appropriate criteria for such competition to be established by the commissioner of environment and conservation. When the recipient is a local government, the local share of the match shall be determined by the department, using an economic index based upon factors which include, but are not limited to, per capita income and property values of the local government. Jurisdictions falling within the lower economic scale on the index shall be eligible for lower matching rates.Acts 1996, ch. 846, § 29.