Waste Prevention Grant Opportunities
-
A volunteer at Irvington Presbyterian Church restocks the double-door refrigerator purchased with grant funding for surplus food donation equipment. -
Full Belly Farm purchased stackable plastic totes to eliminate the recurring purchase of waxed cardboard boxes for transporting produce.
Important Update: StopWaste will not be offering competitive grant funding for most grant categories during our typical January-March timeframe for 2025.
Changes to the Waste Prevention Grant Funding Program
Thank you for your interest in StopWaste’s waste prevention grant program. Please note, StopWaste is undertaking a comprehensive programmatic review to enable us to maximize impact, and better align our resources with StopWaste priorities and community needs.
What's Next for the Waste Prevention Grant Opportunities?
We aim to launch a revamped grant program in fall 2026. This updated program may include:
- Revised focus areas that prioritize new agency goals and community impact.
- A shift to a two-year grant term for greater continuity and efficiency.
- A refined approach to funding to ensure a higher success rate for applicants by narrowing eligibility to align with our most pressing priorities.
Please check back here in September 2026 for details regarding the updated Grants Program. If you would like to be notified when more information about the 2026 Waste Prevention Grant funding is available, please add your contact information here.
Equipment Grants Available January 2025
Beginning January 2025, a limited number of grants specifically to fund waste prevention equipment will be available in the following three categories:
Surplus Food Donation Equipment Grants
Available to nonprofits, these grants provide funding to strengthen their capacity to safely recover and redistribute edible surplus food generated in Alameda County, increasing the volume of food available to help nourish communities in Alameda County. These grants support the acquisition of essential equipment, to improve efficiency and building capacity for the edible food recovery components of SB 1383. Up to $10,000 per grant.
Reusable Transport Packaging Equipment Grants
Available to nonprofits, businesses, institutions, and school districts, these grants fund reusable, durable alternatives to replace limited-life packaging used in manufacturing, transportation and/or distribution, such as boxes, pallets, pallet wraps, and dunnage. Funds help cover the upfront reusable equipment costs. Once reusables are in place, organizations often see long-term cost savings by eliminating (or significantly reducing) recurring costs for packaging materials. Up to $10,000 per grant.
Reusable Foodware Cafeteria Grants
Available to nonprofits, businesses, institutions, public and private schools, and school districts in Alameda County, these grants support the transition from single-use, disposable foodware (such as cups, plates, trays, utensils, etc.) to reusable systems in closed-environment cafeterias and similar dining facilities. Funds help cover the cost of reusable foodware, dishwashing equipment and/or dishwashing services. From $25,000 to $50,000 per grant.
Equipment grant applications will go live on our website on January 6, 2025 and will be due February 24, 2025.
Current StopWaste grantees with open contracts are not eligible to apply for the Equipment Grants opening on January 6th, 2025.
We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work towards a grant program that better serves our agency and community’s evolving needs.