Wake County Solid Waste Management has offered waste reduction grants since 2004. Schools, nonprofit organizations, and businesses have received awards to expand recycling collection, start composting and hold events to repair durable goods. Past awards ranged from a minimum of $500 to a maximum of $10,000 to support innovative projects with a measurable impact on diverting waste from landfill.
Applications were due November 15, 2024. Proposals are being reviewed and all applicants will be contacted via email before December 15, 2024. Contact the grant program manager at 919-856-6432 or bianca.howard@wake.gov to discuss potential projects.
Eligibility Requirements
- For-profit, not-for-profit, and educational organizations are eligible to apply.
- Applicants must be based in or have operations in Wake County, NC.
- Projects should be planned for completion within a 12-month period. Wake County will consider extensions of up to an additional 12 months on a case-by-case basis.
- The proposed project must have a measurable impact on reducing waste sent to South Wake Landfill through strategies including, but not limited to, waste prevention, reuse, recycling, repair or composting. Projects should also include education and communication strategies, but projects exclusively focused on raising awareness are not appropriate for this grant program.
Funding Structure
- The minimum grant award is $1,000 and the maximum is $10,000.
- Funds will be distributed on a cost reimbursement basis and grantees will be required to provide receipts. The division will consider requests for advance payments on a case-by-case basis.
- Grantees must register as a vendor with Wake County and sign a contract before any grant funds will be disbursed.
- Grantees must submit quarterly reports adhering to a template and timeline provided by Wake County.
Expectations for Grant Recipients
- Recipients will be listed on the Wake County website and named in media releases.
- Recipients will be required to share drafts of recycling signage and other communication materials produced with grant funds with Wake County Solid Waste staff to ensure coherence with the county’s solid waste program guidelines.
- Recipients must accept a site visit from Wake County Solid Waste staff to check progress toward project goals.
- Proposed projects must be in compliance with all federal, state and local statutes, rules and regulations, including, but not limited to, zoning, labor and transportation laws.
- Grantees are encouraged to work with Wake County on shared outreach opportunities such as media releases and cross-posting on social media platforms.
Past Grant Recipients
2022
Girl Scouts - NC Coastal Pines Council received $600 to support a Gold Award project that will create a mobile kiosk to educate Falls Lake State Recreation Area visitors about litter.
Millbrook Magnet High School received $3,400 to divert food waste through on- and off-site composting.
The NC Rural Center received $3,900 to increase recycling and organic waste collection access for conference center users.
Orange Recycling Services received $10,000 to purchase a densifier to create polystyrene recycling opportunities for business customers.
Raleigh Community Kickstand received $7,075 to refurbish used bicycles and distribute them to Wake County residents experiencing homelessness.
2021
Inter-Faith Food Shuttle received $6,600 to start on-farm composting of blemished produce.
Lincoln Heights Environmental Connections Magnet Elementary received $3,862 for a mobile kitchen to teach students how to prevent food waste while cooking.
Pullen Memorial Baptist Church received $6,000 to purchase bins, signage and educational materials to improve waste diversion efforts.
The Town of Wendell received $10,000 to purchase recycling receptacles and concrete pads to expand recycling for visitors and businesses in downtown.
2020
North Carolina State University received $9,984 to pilot food waste collection in apartment-style residence halls.
North Ridge Elementary School received $4,600 to reduce cafeteria waste.
Poe Center for Health Education received $7,540 to expand composting and educate visitors and staff about preventing wasted food.
Triangle Repair Network received $2,970 to purchase tools and promote repair events.
2019
First United Methodist Church-Cary received $1,200 to create a lending library for cutlery and update recycling signage.
Friends of NC Museum of Natural Sciences received $6,000 to compost organic waste in cafes and educate museum staff.
Live Nation received $5,000 to implement a recycling program in parking lots at its Raleigh amphitheater.
Locals Seafood received $10,000 to transform fish waste into a boutique pet treat.
North Carolina State University received $7,800 to improve recycling and composting collection at the Schaub Food Science building.
Sonoco Recycling received $10,000 to improve educational tours by replacing cameras in its Raleigh material recovery facility.