Solid Waste & Recycling Newsletter

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation sent this bulletin on 05/06/2022 03:30 PM EDT
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Solid Waste & Recycling Newsletter

New York State Compost Awareness Week May 1 – 7, 2022

ICAW Poster 2022

Join us in celebrating New York State Compost Awareness Week (May 1 – May 7, 2022) - Recipe for Regeneration: Compost! Learn more about how you can celebrate NYS Compost Awareness Week and find an event near you.

Home Composting Opportunities

Composting opportunities aren't just limited to a backyard compost pile. The truth is there are a number of ways you can get involved in composting from home:

NEW! - DEC Municipal Funding for Food Scraps Recycling Initiatives

The goal of this funding program is to assist municipalities in starting or expanding municipal food scraps recycling programs. To ensure equitable access and development of food scraps recycling opportunities for all New Yorkers, this year's opportunity will prioritize the first half of available funds for eligible projects serving Environmental Justice and Disadvantaged communities.

Approximately $2 million is available for funding of Municipal Food Scraps Recycling Initiatives. The first $1,000,000 will prioritize eligible projects that dedicate at least 50% of the total requested funding to serving environmental justice communities.

The following types of projects are included in this opportunity:

  • Creating or expanding programs to increase residential food scraps recycling
  • Creating or expanding food scraps recycling programs and facilities

Funding for Municipal Food Scraps Recycling Initiatives Now Accepting Applications. Learn more about this funding opportunity and how to apply!

Round 6 of the Climate Smart Communities Grant Program Is Now Open!

Round 6 of the Climate Smart Communities (CSC) Grant Program is open for applications as of May 2, 2022. The program provides competitive, 50/50 matching grants to municipalities to conduct climate change mitigation and adaptation projects, including actions that are part of a strategy to achieve Climate Smart Communities certification. View the 2022 Request for Applications (PDF).

Funding Available
Up to $12 million is available for grants of between $50,000 and $2,000,000 for implementation projects related to the following topics, among others:

  • Reducing vehicle miles traveled (VMT)
  • Reducing food waste (wasted food reduction education & outreach programs, food donation, food waste pick-up services, construction or expanding facilities to process food scraps)
  • Reducing hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) emissions from refrigeration and other related equipment
  • Increasing natural resiliency through restoration or preservation of wetlands and floodplains
  • Reducing future flood-risk, including by relocating or retrofitting critical infrastructure
  • Preparing for extreme weather events

The deadline for the 2022 round is 4:00 p.m. on July 29, 2022. For more information about the Climate Smart Communities Grant Program.

NYSP2I Food Waste Reduction & Diversion Reimbursement Program

Grant Deadline Extended: Food Waste Reduction and Diversion Reimbursement Program
Funding is available to entities generating, hauling, or recycling food scraps in New York State.

About the Grant: The Food Waste Reduction & Diversion Reimbursement Program at RIT offers a reimbursement of up to 44% (in most cases not to exceed $100,000) of eligible equipment costs upon implementation of an approved project. Eligible equipment includes purchases that will keep excess food or food scraps out of landfills or incinerators.

Who is Eligible: Businesses and non-profits registered in New York State that produce, haul or recycle more than 1 ton of food scraps per week.

Learn more about NYSP2I Food Waste Reduction and Diversion Reimbursement Program.

NYSAR3 K-12 Green Schools Grant Program Accepting Applications!

NYSAR3 is pleased to announce a new round of funds for 2022, for projects implemented during the 2022-2023 school year. Multiple projects will be awarded for a maximum of $1,000 per award. The goal of this grant program is to provide funds to K-12 schools to develop new programs and support existing programs related to the 3 R’s (reduce, reuse, and recycle) and composting. Special consideration will be given to schools located in an area identified as a disadvantaged community*. Applications are due Sunday, June 5, 2022.

Learn more about the NYSAR3 K-12 Green Schools Grant Program and Apply Today!

Public Events

Conferences, Workshops & Webinars

Funding/RFP Opportunities - Application Deadlines

We Want To Hear From You!

Is there a topic you'd like to learn more about or a public event or workshop related to recycling (organics, textiles, traditional recyclables, etc.) you'd like the greater community to know more about? E-mail us at organicrecycling@dec.ny.gov and it could be featured in an upcoming Solid Waste & Recycling Newsletter.