On Thursday, CalRecycle announced the availability of nearly $5 million in grants for local governments, nonprofit organizations, solid waste facilities, public schools, and tribes to support new and expanded edible food recovery and food waste prevention projects.
Under new organic waste regulations, local governments must significantly increase edible food recovery and develop food waste prevention and recovery programs. In this year’s budget, the Legislature appropriated nearly $200 million to CalRecycle to support organic waste and solid waste recovery programs, including $5 million for this grant.
This new competitive grant program will provide $150,000 to $250,000 per grant award for:
- Food Recovery Projects. Projects that result in food that would otherwise be destined for landfills, being recovered and distributed to people.
- Food Waste Prevention Projects. Projects that prevent food waste from being generated and becoming waste that is normally destined for landfills. Examples include:
- Modernizing production and handling practices to prevent and reduce food preparation waste
- Identifying and modifying ordering practices that result in measurable decreases in food waste.
- Creating and expanding education and outreach programs that result in quantifiable reductions in food waste.
Applications are due December 16, 2021 and awards are anticipated to be announced in February 2022. Importantly, applicants must have an Environmentally Preferable Purchasing and Practices (EPPP) Policy in place by January 20, 2022.
CalRecycle is expected to announce other competitive grant programs in the very near future, as well as allocations of $60 million to local governments to help implement SB 1383 organic waste regulations.
For more information, click here. Please contact John Kennedy, RCRC Legislative Advocate, with any questions.