Food Waste Management and Planning Assistance Grants Now Available

Food Waste Management Grants

Grant funding for municipal food donations and food scrap recycling is available through the NYS Grants Gateway. An estimated 2.5 million New York residents are food insecure and about 40 percent of the food produced in the United States goes uneaten. In addition to wasting natural resources, including water and nutrients, to produce food that will never be consumed, much of this organic waste is disposed of in solid waste landfills where its decomposition accounts for more than 15 percent of U.S. emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.

Not-for-profit emergency food relief organizations are eligible to receive funding to increase the availability of wholesome food to those in need, including the purchase of equipment such as refrigerators for fruits and vegetables and staff expenses that result in increased collection and distribution of food.

Municipalities are eligible for funds to promote the reduction of wasted food, increase food donation efforts, and for increased food scraps recycling through the construction of composting facilities or other means.

DEC will accept applications until February 1, 2019 at 3 p.m. for food rescue organizations and March 1, 2019 at 3 p.m. for eligible municipalities.

Additional information and the full press release are available on DEC’s website. Please direct all questions regarding this grant opportunity to organicsgrants@dec.ny.gov

Local Foods, Local Places 2018-2019 Application Now Open

Local governments, Indian Tribes, and nonprofit organizations and institutions are invited to apply for a new round of planning assistance from Local Foods, Local Places. Local Foods, Local Places helps communities revitalize neighborhoods through development of local food systems. In 2017, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Delta Regional Authority supported the program. The Northern Border Regional Commission will join as a program sponsor in 2018.

Sign up for a webinar to learn more about the Local Foods, Local Places program and selection process: October 4, 2018 from 3 p.m. – 4 p.m.

For more information on this funding opportunity, visit EPA’s website.

Applications will be accepted until October 22, 2018 at 11:59 p.m.