DEC announces $2.5M in grants to bolster food donation and food scraps recycling
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) recently announced $2.5 million in new grant funding is available to assist nonprofits that provide emergency food relief in New York State and municipalities seeking to start or expand existing food scraps recycling programs and facilities.
New York State’s food donation and food scraps recycling programs help reduce waste and climate-altering emissions caused by landfilling.
“Food donation and food scraps recycling infrastructure are critical to achieving New York’s waste diversion goals and the $2.5 million in grants announced today will help increase the effectiveness and reach of emergency food relief programs,” said DEC Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar. “DEC’s grant program complements other successful initiatives like the Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling Law by diverting waste, helping decrease our dependence on landfills, and reducing climate-altering emissions while getting millions of pounds of healthy food to New Yorkers in need.”
About $1.25 million from the state Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) is available to assist emergency food relief organizations in increasing the amount of wholesome food available to those in need through the purchase of transportation, cooling, emergency power generators, and related equipment. The program provides 75 percent reimbursement to nonprofits, from a minimum of $500 to a maximum of $100,000 awarded per project.
Another $1.25 million in EPF funding is available to assist municipalities to start or expand municipal food scraps recycling programs. This program also provides 75 percent reimbursement to municipalities, within a range of $1,000 to $200,000 per project.
The New York State Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling Law continues to see record volumes of food managed sustainably and diverted away from disposal at the state’s largest food-related businesses. Since 2021, DEC has provided $4.8 million to Feeding New York State and the 10 regional food banks through the EPF. The deadline to apply for funding is 3 p.m. on Jan. 31, 2025.
To learn more about this grant opportunity, email [email protected]. The DEC is also holding two webinars for interested applicants on Nov. 13. For instructions on how to access the webinars and details about the grant opportunities including application criteria, visit DEC’s website.
