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.

Business Food Waste Mitigation Grant Program

The Business Food Waste Mitigation Grant Program (the "Program") is a $4 million initiative administered by the New York State Department of Economic Development d/b/a Empire State Development ("ESD") designed to reduce business-generated food waste sent to landfill and combustion facilities through the creation of new, or expansion of existing, organics recycling facilities.

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS:

  • Must be a New York entity making a capital investment that will expand food waste recycling infrastructure in NYS by accepting food waste from large-scale operations, including, at a minimum, businesses such as restaurants, supermarkets, malls, casinos & racetracks, sporting venues, hotels, wholesale and distribution centers, and others.

  • Eligible Entities include:

    • (i) Municipalities

    • (ii) Non-Profit/Not-For-Profit organizations

  • Eligible projects include the purchase of food processing, management, and transportation equipment that collect and recycle food waste from businesses. Examples of eligible equipment include compactors, dehydrators, depackagers, windrow turners, forklifts, and food waste collection trucks.

Deadline of Application: May 23, 2025

Monroe County NY School Food Waste Diversion Grant Program

Monroe County is launching the Monroe County School Food Waste Diversion Pilot Program to inspire students, teachers, and staff at public primary and secondary schools to take an active role in reducing food waste locally.

This program will provide funding via grants to assist public school districts with facilities within Monroe County in starting or expanding food waste diversion programs.

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS:

  • These grants are only available to public school districts that are actively participating in a mixed recycling program, as mandated in the Monroe County Solid Waste Reuse and Recycling Regulations.

  • A school district, defined under this grant program, includes any of the 18 public school districts primarily within the Monroe County, as well as BOCES Monroe 1 and 2.

Deadline of Application: April 11, 2025 by 11:59 PM