DEC Announces $2.5 Million in Grants Now Available to Bolster Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling Statewide

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today 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 York's 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 food to New Yorkers in need."

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.

As of August 2024, Feeding New York State reported receiving an average of two million pounds of food donations each month. The program recently celebrated a significant milestone of more than 32 million pounds of edible food donated to food banks and provided directly to people in need.

The deadline to apply for funding is 3 p.m. on Jan. 31, 2025. Questions regarding this grant opportunity can be directed to [email protected]. In addition, DEC is holding two webinars for interested applicants on Nov. 13, 2024. For instructions on how to access the webinars and details about the grant opportunities including application criteria, visit DEC's website.

Among the many environmental victories in the enacted 2024-25 State Budget, Governor Kathy Hochul and legislative leaders maintained the historically high level of $400 million in EPF funding. This includes the $2.5 million for organics recycling efforts for these grant opportunities. The EPF supports climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts, improves agricultural resources to promote sustainable agriculture, protects water sources, advances conservation efforts, and provides recreational opportunities for New Yorkers.