Funding Opportunities about Wasted Food
Wasted food is a growing problem in our modern society and an untapped opportunity. In 2019 alone, EPA estimates that about 66 million tons of wasted food were generated in the food retail, food service, and residential sectors, and most of this waste (60 percent) was sent to landfills. EPA estimates that more food reaches landfills and combustion facilities than any other single material in our everyday trash, constituting 24 percent of the amount landfilled and 22 percent of the amount combusted with energy recovery in 2018.
On this page:
EPA Grants
Every year, EPA awards more than $4 billion in funding for grants and other assistance agreements. From small nonprofit organizations to large state governments, EPA works to help many visionary organizations achieve their environmental goals. With countless success stories over the years, EPA grants remain a chief tool to protect human health and the environment.
Visit the EPA grants webpage for more information.
EPA specific funding opportunities for reducing wasted food are listed below. We will update this page with any future opportunities specific to wasted food.
Consumer Recycling Education and Outreach Grant Round Two
On September 16, 2024, EPA announced an exciting funding opportunity as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This funding opportunity is focused on consumer recycling education and outreach. For this second round of REO funding, EPA is focusing on preventing the generation of wasted food and increasing its recycling through composting. The program provides $39 million to fund one cooperative agreement that includes three projects:
- Developing and implementing a national consumer wasted food reduction campaign.
- Expanding the market for and sales of compost.
- Increasing education and outreach to households on composting.
Apply by December 20, 2024.
Visit the Consumer Recycling Education and Outreach webpage for more information.
EPA Region 4 Sustainable Materials Management Grants
EPA Region 4 released a notice of funding opportunity designed to address municipal recycling markets and promote strategies for preventing food loss and waste in the Southeast.
Apply by October 31, 2024.
Learn more about this funding opportunity on Grants.gov.
EPA Region 1 Healthy Communities Grant Program 2024
EPA New England’s Healthy Communities Grant Program is now accepting applications for projects that will benefit one or more New England communities. EPA plans to award approximately 15 cooperative agreements for amounts up to $40,000. Sustainable Materials Management is one of the topic areas within scope. There are several informational webinars, the first of which is on July 16 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET (Register here).
The deadline to submit an application is Friday, November 1, 11:59 p.m.
Visit the Healthy Communities Grant Program webpage for more information.
EPA Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program
EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights is awarding approximately $2 billion in grants to fund community-driven projects that address climate challenge and reduce pollution while strengthening communities through thoughtful implementation.
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis with initial award selections beginning in March 2024. The final application deadline is November 21, 2024.
Grants.gov
All EPA grants and other federal grants can be found on Grants.gov. Additionally, all EPA grant applicants must use Workspace to submit applications through Grants.gov.
Other Federal Agency Grants
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Community Food Projects Competitive Grants
The USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program supports projects that work across the food system to increase the self-reliance of communities in providing for their food needs. The program also promotes comprehensive responses to local food access, farm and nutrition issues—including strategies to reduce food waste—and agricultural needs that mutually benefit agricultural producers and consumers. Public food program service providers, Tribal organizations, and private nonprofit entities are eligible to apply.
Apply by November 7, 2024.
Learn more about this program and how to apply.
USDA Rural Energy for America Program Renewable Energy Systems & Energy Efficiency Improvement Guaranteed Loans & Grants
The program provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Agricultural producers may also apply for new energy efficient equipment and new system loans for agricultural production and processing. Funds may be used for the purchase and installation of renewable energy systems, including anaerobic digesters.
This program is open for Fiscal Years 2023 and 2024. Applications are due by September 30, 2024.
Learn more about this program and how to apply.
USDA Foundational and Applied Science Program Grants
These grants cover research, education, and extension projects with a wide variety of topics and eligible entities.
Application deadlines: August 1 through November 14, 2024, depending on program area.