The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is pleased to announce funding to reduce wasted food and enhance food scraps recycling initiatives through the Wasted Food Reduction and Food Scraps Recycling Initiatives - 2026 Grant Program. Projects or programs that promote and implement wasted food reduction and/or increase the recycling of food scraps by residential, institutional, municipal, or commercial entities may be eligible for funding through this grant opportunity. Funding Approximately $4 million is available for this Wasted Food Reduction and Food Scraps Recycling Initiatives Grant Program. Funding for this grant opportunity is provided from the Environmental Protection Fund. DEC reserves the right to reallocate funds from this grant opportunity to the Food Recovery Initiatives Grant Program (2026), which is open concurrently. Proposed Project Timeframes All projects must have defined objectives, tasks, and deliverables accounted for in performance measures that can be completed and invoiced within a three-year contract term. Given the rolling application period, DEC is allowing the vendors to request variable contract start dates. Bidders should anticipate a contract start date within 3 months of receiving notification of tentative award. The earliest contract start date is April 1, 2027, and the latest contract start date is November 2, 2028. Contracts will be given an end date that occurs 3 years after the start date assigned during the contract negotiation and execution process. Costs outside of the contract period/term are ineligible. State of New York Contract For Grants must be fully approved by DEC and, if applicable, approved by the Attorney General and the State Comptroller. Time extensions beyond the contract term end date will be determined by DEC based upon written justification from the Bidder. Bidders should not submit a bid if they do not anticipate that their project can be completed within the specified contract term. Minimum and Maximum Award Amounts Minimum grant amount is $1,000.00; Maximum grant amount is $300,000.00. Bid Limit Bidders may submit one bid. Bidders who submit more than one bid will only be eligible to receive one award in this grant round. If multiple bids are submitted, the bidder will be asked which project they would like to have potentially funded. Eligible Project Locations Eligible projects for grant funding must be located in New York State. Eligible Bidders A New York State municipality, which includes one or more of the following: a county, city, town, village, local public authority or public benefit corporation, Native American tribe or nation residing in New York State or a school district or supervisory district. New for 2026: 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporations (NFP) whose projects are located within New York State. For this grant opportunity, a NFP is subject to New York State’s Not-For-Profit Corporation Law, is qualified for tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Federal Internal Revenue Code, has an IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter to be incorporated in New York State and is current in their charities reporting requirements with the Office of the Attorney General. Private entities, individuals, and unincorporated groups may not apply for this grant program, but an eligible NFP, known as a fiscal sponsor, may apply on behalf of an unincorporated group or individual. A fiscal sponsor is a NFP that applies to DEC on behalf of individuals or unincorporated organizations or groups. The fiscal sponsor accepts responsibility to serve as a fiscal conduit for a DEC-funded project, receiving and disbursing funds related to the grant, and administering the requirements throughout the DEC grant process, including final reporting of grant activity. If a proposed project involves a cooperative agreement or partners, only one eligible, designated lead bidder can submit the bid for grant funding. The lead bidder must assume the responsibility for the project bid, performance of work consistent with this grant program, and the State of New York Contract for Grants. Bidders must possess the knowledge, skills, and track record to successfully implement the project Business enterprises awarded an identical or substantially similar procurement contract within the past five years: City Of Albany City Of Buffalo Clinton County Health Department Columbia County Solid Waste County Of Dutchess County Of Erie County Of Madison County Of Monroe County Of Ontario Genesee Valley School District Greene County Lewis County Department Of Planning New York City Housing Authority Peru Central School District Riverhead Town Community Development Agency Rockland Cnty Solid Waste Mgmt Auth Salamanca City School District Sherrill School District Tompkins County Town Of Amherst Town Of Bethlehem Town Of Colton Town Of Geneva Town Of Henrietta Town Of Highland Town Of Hurley Town Of Jay Town Of Keene Town Of Liberty Town Of Mamaroneck Town Of Minerva Town Of New Paltz Town Of Seneca Falls Town Of Shelter Island Town Of Tusten Town Of Westport Village Of Briarcliff Manor Village Of Brockport Village Of Canton Village Of Dobbs Ferry Village Of Mamaroneck Village Of Montour Falls Village Of Orchard Park Village Of Patchogue Village Of Port Washington North Inc Village Of Potsdam Village Of Rhinebeck Village Of Rye Brook Village Of Woodbury Westchester County DEF Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business (SDVOB) SDVOB Goal: 0.00% Minority / Women Business Enterprise contracting goals (MWBE) Total MWBE Goals: 0.00%
