The Reduce, Reuse, Repair Micro-Grant program is administered by the Municipal Waste Reduction Branch of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP). It supports short-term projects designed to reduce waste by promoting the reuse and repair of materials across the state. This grant aligns with Massachusetts' broader 2030 Solid Waste Master Plan and is focused on extending product lifecycles through donation, sharing, rescue, reuse, and repair initiatives. Projects focusing on recycling and composting are explicitly excluded from eligibility.
Eligible applicants include businesses (both nonprofit and for-profit), regional entities such as solid waste management districts, municipalities, and schools (both public and private, including colleges and universities) operating in Massachusetts. Individual micro-grants will be awarded in amounts ranging from $3,000 to $10,000, and the total available budget for the program is $125,000. Grant funding is distributed on a reimbursement basis, and projects must be completed within one year from the execution of the Standard Contract.
Funding may be used for specific eligible expenses such as event marketing, equipment purchases, temporary staff, bulk dispensing systems, reusable food service initiatives, reuse infrastructure, repair programs, deconstruction projects, and related education and outreach efforts. It cannot be used for operating expenses, art projects, incentives, ocean or land cleanups, or any general recycling or composting initiatives.
The application deadline is May 15, 2025, by 5:00 PM ET, and all applications must be submitted online via the MassDEP Micro-Grant webpage. Applicants are encouraged to build a timeline that allows three to five months for evaluation, award, and contracting. Final reports summarizing project results will be required, and reimbursement will be contingent upon satisfactory submission of documentation, invoices, and other required proof of work completion.
Competitive applications will demonstrate innovation, feasibility, replicability, environmental justice impact, and sustainability beyond the initial grant funding. Preference will be given to projects that benefit Environmental Justice (EJ) populations in Massachusetts.
For questions, applicants should contact Leah Kelleher at leah.kelleher@mass.gov.
