Grants
Explore funding opportunities for food waste reduction, composting, and sustainability initiatives. Find grants, application deadlines, and resources to support your projects.
National
Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grants for Tribes and Intertribal Consortia
The Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) grant program will assist local waste management authorities by supporting improvements to local post-consumer materials management, including municipal recycling programs, and assisting local waste management authorities in making improvements to local waste management systems.
The total estimated funding for the competitive opportunity is approximately $20,000,000. EPA anticipates awarding approximately 20 assistance agreements under this funding opportunity, with at least one award per each EPA Region, depending on the quantity and quality of the applications received. The minimum individual award floor is $100,000, and the maximum individual award ceiling is $1,500,000 for the grant period. Awards funded under this opportunity may have up to a three-year project period. Projects located in Alaska may have up to a five-year project period.
ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS:
The entities eligible to apply for this grant are:
Indian Tribes, as defined in 33 U.S.C. 4201 and section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304), which includes Alaskan Native Villages and Alaska Native Corporations, and former Indian reservations in Oklahoma, as determined by the Secretary of the Interior, and
Intertribal consortia, consistent with the requirements in Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations Section 35.504(a).
Deadline of Application:
Apply in Grants.gov by 11:59 PM on January 23, 2026.
DEC Municipal Waste Reduction and Recycling (MWRR) State Assistance Program for Capital Projects Grant Opportunity
The MWRR program is a state assistance program for waste reduction, recycling and household hazardous waste (HHW). Funding is provided on a 50% reimbursement rate for eligible costs. Organics management projects are eligible under this state assistance program.
Grants for Recycling Coordination and Education Projects: Awarded on an annual basis. Applications are accepted August, September and October of each year.
Grants for Recycling Capital Projects (equipment and facilities): Applications accepted on an ongoing basis.
ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS:
The following entities within New York State are eligible to apply for these grants:
Counties, Cities, Towns or Villages
Local Public Authorities
Local Public Benefit Corporations (organizations established by State Law)
School Districts, Supervisory Districts & Improvement Districts
Native American Tribes or Nations residing in New York State
DEC is authorized to provide State assistance for projects that further the primary strategy of the NYS solid waste management hierarchy and enhance the municipal recycling infrastructure. These projects reduce the volume or toxicity of materials entering the MSW stream at the point of generation, and/or enhance municipal recycling infrastructure through:
construction of materials recycling facilities
construction of composting facilities
construction of HHW collection facilities
purchasing of recyclables processing equipment
purchasing of recycling containers
purchasing of new recyclables collection vehicles
beverage container assistance project (not-for-profit organizations qualify as eligible entities)
Deadline of Application:
The current Grant Opportunity is open from November 1, 2024 - October 31, 2027.
Please be advised that this grant program is operating under a multi-year waitlist. Awards will be issued upon availability of funding on an ongoing first-come-first-served basis.
EPA Environmental Education (EE) Grants
Under the Environmental Education Grants Program, EPA seeks grant applications through a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) from eligible applicants to support environmental education projects that promote environmental awareness and stewardship and help provide people with the skills to take responsible actions to protect the environment. This grant program provides financial support for projects that design, demonstrate, and/or disseminate environmental education practices, methods, or techniques.
Since 1992, EPA has distributed between $2 and $3.5 million in grant funding per year, supporting more than 3,980 grants.
ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS:
The following entities are ELIGIBILE to apply for a grant under this competition:
Local Education Agencies
Nonprofit Organizations
College or Universities
State Education or Environmental Agencies
Local or County Environmental Agencies
Tribal Organizations that qualify as a nonprofit organization described Section 501(C)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
Tribal Education Agencies (Tribal education agencies eligible to apply include schools or community colleges controlled by an Indian tribe, band or nation which is recognized as eligible for special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians, and which are not administered by the Bureau of Indian Education)
Noncommercial educational broadcasting entity as defined and licensed by Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Additional eligibility considerations: Applicant organizations must be located in the United States, or in a U.S. territory. Please note that the eligibility requirements apply to both “prime” recipients and subrecipients.
Deadline of Application:
Applications must be submitted electronically on www.grants.gov. EPA anticipates awarding up to 17 grants nationwide during this competition cycle. This grant competition closes on March 3, 2026.