Grants

Explore funding opportunities for food waste reduction, composting, and sustainability initiatives. Find grants, application deadlines, and resources to support your projects.

New York

DEC Municipal Waste Reduction and Recycling (MWRR) State Assistance Program

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.

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

Deadline of Application: October 31, 2027

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.

Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) Composting for Community Mini-Grant

The Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) is launching year two of the Composting for Community Mini-Grant Program to support new or existing local community composters in New England coastal states and – for the first time – New York City. The Mini-Grant Program focuses in particular on historically underserved communities, including Native Nations and neighborhoods affected by discrimination and exclusion. We invite applications from projects originating in these communities, including BIPOC-led or BIPOC-serving organizations.

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS:

  • Organizations rooted in and/or working in historically underserved communities and neighborhoods affected by discrimination and exclusion, including BIPOC-led or BIPOC-serving programs, and Native Nations.

  • Projects must fund new or existing local community composting initiatives.

  • Example groups include community gardens, congregations, educational institutions (e.g., schools), farms, food co-ops, food scrap collection service providers, for-profits, governmental institutions, Native Nations, non-profits, worker-owned co-ops, and more.

  • Funded projects must reside within:

    • New York City

    • Connecticut

    • Maine

    • Massachusetts

    • New Hampshire

    • Rhode Island

Deadline of Application: July 25, 2025

Connecticut

Sustainable Materials Management Grant Program (2nd Round)

The Sustainable Materials Management Grant Program, administered by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), has opened a request for applications (RFA) for a second round of grants, which are aimed at supporting the development of food scrap collection and unit-based pricing programs, as well as other reduction, recycling, and diversion programs. Many of the strategies that will be funded by these grants were recommended by the Connecticut Coalition for Sustainable Materials Management, a coalition of more than a hundred municipalities across Connecticut that are working to develop strategies to reduce waste and increase reuse and recycling.

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS:

  • Grants are available for individual and groups of municipalities, as well as regional entities (councils of governments, regional planning agencies, resource recovery authorities, recycling operating committees, and regional waste authorities).

Deadline of Application: Applications may be submitted not before May 8 and no later than Friday, June 27, 2025

National