Wasted Food Management Grant

The Wasted Food Management Grant offered by the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality supports initiatives that prevent food waste and redirect edible surplus to beneficial uses. Rooted in the state’s environmental sustainability goals, the program is part of Oklahoma’s broader solid waste management efforts and is administrated by the Land Protection Division. This grant is designed to encourage and expand projects that transform food waste from a liability into a resource, while complying with health, safety, and environmental regulations. The initiative aims to reduce the amount of food sent to landfills and instead channel it to people in need or toward composting, enhancing both public welfare and environmental stewardship. Three key project types are eligible for support. The first includes School and University Food Share Programs, such as “share tables” or “food re-service” initiatives. These projects aim to redistribute uneaten food from school cafeterias to students and families who need it, followed by donations to local food banks. Any food that cannot be reused is to be composted. The second eligible project type includes University Sustainability Research Projects, which focus on mapping food recovery systems. These projects may analyze current infrastructure, create GIS databases, develop mobile applications, or explore regulatory landscapes relevant to food redistribution. Lastly, the grant supports startup costs for Community Food Recovery programs, covering physical needs like bins, coolers, and educational signage to facilitate safe and efficient food collection and delivery. Funding is limited and competitive. DEQ does not guarantee support to all applicants. All awarded funds must be spent during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, and grantees must submit final invoices by August 31, 2027. The grant reimburses up to 80% of equipment costs ranging between $5,000 and $50,000, excluding items like buildings, vehicles, laptops, and drones. Importantly, no expenditures made before the execution of a formal agreement and purchase order are reimbursable. Successful applicants must formally register as a Payee in the Oklahoma Supplier Portal and enter into a signed agreement with DEQ before initiating project activities. Applications will be evaluated based on several weighted criteria: environmental improvement potential, project feasibility, collaboration, outreach strategy, sustainability, scope, budget detail, and any applicable past performance. Required submission materials include contact details, a complete budget, a detailed scope of work, and responses to a structured project questionnaire. Monthly invoices, project metrics, and visual documentation of progress are mandatory for reimbursement. The review process includes initial scoring, potential requests for clarification, and issuance of award notices, followed by formal agreement execution. Eligible applicants include units of government such as city, county, or tribal governments; public school districts; public or private institutions of higher education; and nonprofit organizations capable of delivering unique services. Partnerships are encouraged to maximize impact and resource sharing. The grant supports Oklahoma-wide initiatives but is limited to programs operating within the state. Applications for FY27 are accepted from November 1, 2025, through February 28, 2026. Submissions can be emailed to SWGrants@deq.ok.gov or mailed to the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, addressed to Libby McCaskill at the Land Protection Division. Applicants should use the subject line format: “[Organization] FY27 [grant type] Grant Application DEQ.” Award notifications and agreement execution follow in early 2026, enabling project activities to commence soon thereafter.

Do not begin spending before receiving signed contract and PO; all reimbursements require detailed monthly reporting including photos.