Public Notice

Notice of Availability of State Funds

Grants to Start or Expand Municipal Food Scraps Recycling Programs

Approximately $1,250,000 has been included in the 2024/2025 State budget from the Environmental Protection Fund for one-time funding intended to assist municipalities to start or expand municipal food scraps recycling programs.
(Note: This grant program is being issued in conjunction with a similar $1,250,000 program for non-profits. The total amount available for both programs is $2,500,000. If one program has excess funds after the funding time frame, those funds may be transferred to the other program.)

Eligible Applicants:
Municipalities, defined as: Counties, Cities, Towns, Villages, Local Public Authorities, Local Public Benefit Corporations, School Districts, Supervisory Districts, and Improvement Districts, Native American Tribes or Nations Residing in New York State, or any combination of these.

Description of Eligible Projects:
These grants can partially reimburse actual expenses incurred during an approved contract period (up to three years) beginning after Feb. 1, 2025. Eligible expenditures include projects that increase the recycling of residential food scraps (staff costs related to education or program management, travel, equipment, supplies, and outreach materials) as well as projects that develop new or expand existing food scraps recycling programs (staff, transportation, equipment, construction, pilot projects up to one year in duration). Please see the RFA for details on all eligible items under this opportunity.

This program provides 75% reimbursement to municipalities, with reimbursement limited to a minimum of $1,000 to a maximum of $200,000 awarded per project.

Applications are being accepted now. Final applications are due by 3:00 p.m. EST, January 31, 2025.

If there is any funding remaining after awards are announced, the remaining funds can be made available by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) for a similar grant program for non-profits, until funds are exhausted.

Applications:
Applications must be submitted through the NYS SFS Grants Management System. The NYS SFS Grants Management system offers a Vendor User Manual, training videos and webinars for applicants requiring assistance. Please visit: https://grantsmanagement.ny.gov/transition-SFS.

All Applicants must be Registered with SFS Grants Management to apply. Please visit https://grantsmanagement.ny.gov/transition-SFS to register.

If you are new to the SFS Vendor portal and would like to establish an account for the purposes of doing business with the State of New York, contact the SFS Help Desk at: (518) 457-7717, (855) 233-8363 or [email protected]for more information.

Contact:
For general information on completing this application and for clarification of application requirements, contractual terms and procedures, contact: NYS DEC's Organics Reduction and Recycling Program Staff at: [email protected]Please type "Municipal Food Scraps Grant" in the subject line of the e-mail.

Questions regarding this grant opportunity will be accepted by the NYS DEC until close of business January 29, 2025. All questions, and answers, will be uploaded on NYS DEC's webpage for all applicants to view: https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/recycling-composting/organi….