Local organizations can get up to $10,000 to fund initiatives that keep waste from ending up in the landfill.
Schools, businesses and nonprofits have until Oct. 29 to submit their ideas and requests for funding through the Wake County Commercial Waste Reduction Grant Program. Successful grant recipients will be notified in November and should complete their projects between January and June 2022.
“This is one of my favorite times of year, because I love seeing all of the innovative ways our local organizations are working to reduce what they’re sending to the landfill,” said Solid Waste Outreach Coordinator Bianca Howard, who oversees the grant program. “Wake County is happy to be a partner and help get these great ideas off the ground. It’s a win-win for everyone in the community.”
Since Howard began managing the program in 2019, Wake County has awarded more than $90,000 to 14 organizations. For instance, Locals Seafood got $10,000 to turn leftover fish carcasses into all natural treats for pets. WakeTV featured the program in a five minute video.
Projects must have a significant impact on Wake County and involve waste prevention, reuse, recycling, composting or recycling market development. Funds may also support educational programs about waste prevention.
Here are last year’s grant recipients:
- Inter-Faith Food Shuttle got $6,600 to start on-farm composting of blemished produce.
- Lincoln Heights Environmental Connections Magnet Elementary got $3,862 for a mobile kitchen to teach students how to prevent food waste while cooking.
- Pullen Memorial Baptist Church got $6,000 to purchase bins, signage and educational materials to improve waste diversion efforts.
- The Town of Wendell got $10,000 to purchase recycling receptacles and concrete pads to give downtown visitors and businesses more places to recycle.
Grants are available from $500 to $10,000. To learn more, and apply for funding, visit wakegov.com/recycling. Have a question? Contact Bianca Howard at 919-856-6432 or bianca.howard@wake.gov.
