The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced $2.5 million in new grant funding is available to assist not-for-profits 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 nation-leading 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 Yorkʼs 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.”
Approximately $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. This program provides 75 percent reimbursement to not-for-profits, with reimbursement limited to 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 provides 75 percent reimbursement to municipalities, with reimbursement limited to a minimum of $1,000 to a maximum of $200,000 awarded per project.
The initiatives targeted for funding in this grant round builds upon initiatives to promote both increased food donation and food scraps recycling. 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 January 31, 2025. Questions regarding this grant opportunity can be directed to OrganicsGrants@dec.ny.gov.