Food Waste

Business Food Waste Mitigation Grant Program

The Business Food Waste Mitigation Grant Program is designed to reduce business-generated food waste in New York State. The program will divert food waste from landfill and combustion facilities thereby advancing a key strategy from NY’s Climate Action Council’s Scoping Plan. Food waste makes up 18% of the total municipal solid waste in New York. Reducing the disposal of food waste is key to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Successful business food waste mitigation projects are those that will expand food waste recycling infrastructure in the State to reduce commercial food waste sent to landfill and combustion facilities. The program provides grants to cover costs of equipment purchased for the purpose of building new, or expanding existing, organics recycling facilities to accept food waste from large-scale businesses, at a minimum.

Eligible Recipients:

Eligible Entities: New York State municipalities and non-profit / not-for-profit organizations undertaking a food waste mitigation project.

OR

New York State municipalities and non-profit / not-for-profit organizations may apply on behalf of a New York State-based business undertaking a food waste mitigation project. In this scenario, the New York State business would be considered a co-implementor.

Please refer to the Program Guidelines for more information.

Eligible Projects:

Eligible projects include the purchase of machinery and equipment for the purpose of collecting, processing, and recycling food waste from businesses, and the distribution of byproduct(s) such as compost.

Examples of eligible equipment include:

  • processing equipment (e.g. compactor, dehydrator, depackager, windrow turner, grinder);
  • management equipment (e.g. forklift); and
  • transportation equipment (e.g. trucks).

Funding Source:

Empire State Development

Funding Amount:

Grants will be awarded competitively and will range from $100,000 – $750,000.

Funding Deadline:

Applications must be completed via the Consolidated Funding Application (CFA). Applications must be received by 4:00 PM May 23, 2025

Contact:

If you have questions, email FoodWasteMitigation@esd.ny.gov. Procurement policies prohibit direct email responses, however, your question and respective answer will be included in our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) updated weekly as needed.

More Information:

https://esd.ny.gov/business-food-waste-mitigation-grant-program

EPA Environmental Education (EE) Grants

The Environmental Education Grant Program is seeking applications from eligible applicants to support locally-focused environmental education projects that promote environmental stewardship and help develop knowledgeable and responsible students, teachers, and community members. This grant program provides financial support for projects that design, demonstrate, and/or disseminate environmental education practices, methods, or techniques that increase public awareness and knowledge about local environmental issues and provides participants in its programs the skills necessary to make informed decisions and to take responsible actions toward the environment.

Eligible Recipients:
Applicants must represent one of the following types of organizations to be eligible for an environmental education grant:

  • Local education agencies
  • College or universities
  • State education or environmental agencies
  • Nonprofit organizations described in Section 501(C)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
  • Tribal organizations that qualify as nonprofit organization described Section 501(C)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
  • Tribal education agencies
  • Noncommercial educational broadcasting entity as defined and licensed by Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

“Tribal education agencies” that are eligible to apply include a school or community college which is 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 is not administered by the Bureau of Indian Education.

Eligible Projects:
Applications must address at least one of these Educational Priorities to be considered eligible: community projects; career development; environmental education capacity building; environmental justice and/or indigenous knowledge.

Applications must also address at least one of the Administrator’s Environmental Priorities to be considered eligible: addressing climate change and improving air quality; ensuring clean and safe water; and/or cleaning up our communities by revitalizing land and preventing contamination.

Funding Source:
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Funding Amount:

The total amount of funding available under this announcement is approximately $360,000, depending on Agency funding levels, the quality of applications received, agency priorities, and other applicable considerations. It is anticipated that 3-5 awards will be made under this announcement. Each Region 2 grant will be funded for no less than $50,000, and no more than $100,000 in federal funds. Region 2 covers the states of New Jersey (NJ), New York (NY), Puerto Rico (PR), and the Virgin Islands (VI).

Deadline: November 8, 2023

Contact:

If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact:

Chiamaka Alozie, Region 2 (Electronic Submissions Contact)
Michael Band, HQ (Eligibility and General NOFO Contact)

Alozie.Chiamaka@epa.gov; EEgrants@epa.gov

More Information:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=350204

USDA Cooperative Agreements for Compost and Food Waste Reduction (CFWR) Pilot Projects

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the availability of up to $9.5 million for Compost and Food Waste Reduction (CFWR) pilot projects for fiscal year 2023. The cooperative agreements support projects that develop and test strategies for planning and implementing municipal compost plans and food waste reduction plans. They are part of USDA’s broader efforts to support urban agriculture.  

Eligible Recipients:

  • County governments
  • Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments)
  • Special district governments
  • Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
  • City or township governments
  • Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
  • Independent school districts

Eligible Projects:

  • Generate compost.
  • Increase access to compost for agricultural producers.
  • Reduce reliance on, and limit the use of, fertilizer.
  • Improve soil quality.
  • Encourage waste management and permaculture business development.
  • Increase rainwater absorption.
  • Reduce municipal food waste; and
  • Divert food waste from landfills.

OUAIP will prioritize projects that anticipate or demonstrate economic benefits, incorporate plans to make compost easily accessible to farmers, including community gardeners, integrate other food waste strategies, including food recovery efforts and collaborate with multiple partners.

Funding Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service – NHQ – Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (OUAIP)

Funding Amount: The federal funding agency will award approximately $9.5 million through this opportunity. However, the agency retains the discretion to award a larger or lesser amount.

Deadline: Applicants must submit their applications through Grants.gov by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on June 15, 2023.

Contact:
Melanie Krizmanich
Grantor
Email: melanie.krizmanich@usda.gov

More Information:
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/news/usda-announces-cooperative-agreements-for-compost-and-food-waste-reduction