Greater Minnesota Waste Reduction, Reuse, Recycling, and Composting Grants

The Greater Minnesota Waste Reduction, Reuse, Recycling, and Composting (WRRRC) Grant, administered by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), supports projects that improve the efficiency and effectiveness of waste management in Greater Minnesota. This program aligns with Minnesota’s waste management hierarchy, which prioritizes waste reduction and reuse above recycling and composting. The initiative aims to reduce landfill use, enhance environmental sustainability, and strengthen local economies through strategic waste diversion. With approximately $1 million available, this competitive grant program provided funding for eligible applicants to implement or improve programs related to waste reduction, reuse, recycling, and composting. By encouraging innovative and sustainable approaches, the MPCA seeks to support community-driven solutions that reduce the volume of material entering landfills. Projects may include initiatives like community composting, durable goods reuse, curbside recycling improvements, or public education on waste diversion. Eligible applicants include counties, cities, townships, and Tribal Nations that are geographically located outside the Twin Cities metropolitan area. For city applicants, an additional eligibility criterion required a population under 45,000. All applicants were required to request at least $50,000, with those requesting less deemed ineligible. A 25% match was also required, and matching funds could not originate from other MPCA-administered funding sources. Awards ranged from a minimum of $50,000 to a maximum of $250,000 per project. The grant encouraged a diverse range of project types, provided they addressed one or more priority areas within the waste hierarchy. Applications were submitted exclusively through the SWIFT Supplier Portal. Potential applicants were required to register as bidders in the system and locate the grant by its event ID (2000017417) or by name. The application deadline was October 7, 2025, at 4:30 p.m. Central Time. A virtual informational meeting was held on August 26 to review the grant and submission process. MPCA prohibited direct staff contact regarding this opportunity. Instead, questions were to be submitted via email to [email protected] by October 1, with responses posted in the SWIFT Supplier Portal for transparency. While this round is closed, the structured program goals and approach suggest a potential for future recurring cycles.

Do not contact MPCA staff directly; questions must be submitted via email by Oct. 1 and responses will be posted publicly.