2025 Food Waste Reduction Grant

The Division of Environmental Assistance and Customer Service (DEACS) administers the Food Waste Reduction (FWR) Grant through the Solid Waste Management Outreach Program. Donor Name: Division of Environmental Assistance and Customer Service (DEACS) State: North Carolina County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 10/25/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: The Food Waste Reduction Grant is a special grant program offering funding to help local governments, non-profits, and businesses reduce the amount of wasted food being disposed in landfills. With the release of this Request for Proposals (RFP), DEACS is seeking proposals that request grant funding to support food waste reduction through the expansion of food donation networks or organics recycling operations, including collection and hauling. Types of Projects  Priority Projects Priority Project Grants support investments in public food recovery and organics diversion programs that have been determined by DEACS to be of particular importance to growing and expanding efficient and effective waste reduction and organics recycling services throughout North Carolina. 2025 FWR Priority Projects include: Edible Food Recovery Projects: Projects that result in edible food destined for the landfill being recovered and distributed to people. New In-State Organics Recycling Infrastructure: Construction, expansion, or renovation of organics recycling facilities and/or hauling operations that are new or have been operating for less than five years and accept food waste from outside sources. Standard Project Grants Standard Project Grants include any projects that increase the tons of wasted food diverted from landfill disposal but fall outside of the 2025 priorities. Funding Information Up to $40,000 for Standard Projects. 919-707-8121 Up to $60,000 for Priority Projects. Grant Period February 1, 2025 – January 30, 2026. Uses of funds  Grant funds must be used to develop food waste reduction infrastructure by expanding food donation networks or organics recycling operations, including collection and hauling. Excess food donation occurs through food banks, food pantries, or nonprofit organizations in which packaged food, prepared food and/or produce is distributed to households or individuals in need. Organics recycling operations occur at permitted or exempt composting or anaerobic digestion facilities and include the collection of food scraps from generators or designated drop-off sites. Eligible Expenses  Examples of Grant Projects: Purchase carts for curbside food scrap collection; Purchase a wheel loader to improve efficiency and capacity of food scrap management at a compost facility; Establish a drop-off site for residential or commercial food scraps; Build an aerated-static pile for food scrap composting; Purchase a truck or vehicle to collect edible food for donation or food scraps for composting; Expand or improve storage, preparation, or refrigeration space to support edible food recovery and redistribution; or Construct a concrete pad to improve efficiency and capacity of food scrap management at a compost facility. Install a stand-alone digester to process food scraps. Eligibility Criteria  All applicants must already manage or plan to manage excess food or wasted food in their operations with the purpose of diverting material from landfill disposal. North Carolina-based food rescue organizations, local governments, compost facilities, anaerobic digestion facilities and compost businesses are eligible to apply for funding from the FWR Grant. For the purposes of eligibility for this grant, the following definitions apply: Food rescue organizations include food banks, food pantries, and nonprofit organizations that specialize in the collection, storage, and distribution of food for households or individuals in need. Local governments are defined as counties, municipalities, councils of governments and solid waste authorities in North Carolina. Compost facilities are permitted or exempt facilities that process organic material from outside sources to create a usable soil amendment. Compost businesses are companies or nonprofit organizations that collect or haul organic material from outside sources to compost facilities. Anaerobic digestion facilities are permitted or exempt facilities that process organic materials from outside sources to create biogas and digestate. For more information, visit DEACS.