Grants

Recycling Grant

The Recycling Grant is available to eligible schools, businesses and nonprofits to start or improving recycling and organics (food scraps) collections. The Recycling Grant can also support small-scale waste reduction and reuse initiatives.

  • Cash Grants – Cash grants for equipment, supplies, infrastructure improvements, or educational materials.
  • Direct-Ship Bins – Trash, organics and recycling bins and equipment directly shipped to the business. 
  • Recycling Totes and Signage – Signage, recycling totes, and educational resources are available without applying for a grant. To order directly visit bizrecycling.com/why-recycle/apartments and bizrecycling.com/labels/. 

Grant awards are:

  • Up to $10,000 per business location
  • Up to $20,000 per residential apartment complex

Download full grant guidelines here.

Applications are accepted anytime.

Businesses must meet the following criteria to be eligible for a grant:

  • Have a physical location in Ramsey or Washington County (of Minnesota). Businesses with multiple locations are eligible for multiple grants.
  • Have 1 or more paid employees
  • Be one of the following types of businesses:
    • For profit
    • Nonprofit
    • Private college or university
    • Place of worship
    • Schools
      • Ramsey County: Charter schools with less than 250 students and all private schools
      • Washington County: All charter schools and all private schools
    • Multi-unit residential property (apartment building) with 5 or more units
  • Have an “active/in good standing” registered status with the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State

Ineligible entities include:

  • Home-based businesses
  • All public entities including federal, state, county and city; public colleges and universities
  • Public K-12 schools in Ramsey County

Fundable items and activities include:

Trash, Recycling & Organics Operations

  • Trash, recycling and food waste bins and sorting stations.
  • Totes, carts, cart tippers and other containers to transport waste to containers serviced by hauler.
  • Containers and equipment for specialty materials for reuse or recycling.
  • Food waste management systems for storage, managing odor and space concerns.
  • Compactors and balers.
  • Construction upgrades to loading docks, trash chutes and waste enclosures to accommodate improved recycling or food waste collection.

Food Donation & Waste Reduction

  • Up to 6-months or $5,000 (whichever is less) supply of compostable ware. Business must have an organics pickup service on site.
  • Reusable food service ware if converting from disposables.
  • Reusable containers and equipment to transport donated food.
  • Dishwashers and installation costs if converting from disposable dishware to reusable.
  • One bottle refilling station and installation costs per grant application.
  • Equipment and supplies that move businesses from disposable to reusable options.
  • Shelving/cabinets to store reusable items.
  • Up to $750 towards the replacement or repair of equipment and appliances that promote reuse, where without disposable items would be used.
  • Up to 3 months or $2500 of subscription costs, (whichever is less), to manage inventory/usage/donations of food and disposal items to reduce waste.
  • One-time bulky items hauling and disposal fees.

Education & Engagement

  • Production and printing of custom signage, labels, and education materials.
  • Production & printing of employee recycling training manuals.
  • Books & toys for school classrooms and daycare centers.
  • Staff recycling training (one hour wage per employee).

Apartments Only:

  • One security camera per indoor or outdoor waste collection area.
  • Applicants must work with a BizRecycling Recycling Expert to submit an application. The Recycling Expert will conduct an initial site visit of your location. At the site visit, the Recycling Expert will provide customized recommendations for waste management improvements and discuss your project plan. They will help assemble needed documentation and price quotes for the grant application. 

Applications are submitted through an online system. Your Recycling Expert will setup your account and provide access to the grant application.

You can view a sample application here.

Steve from 3rd Act Brewery in Woodbury recommends BizRecycling to any business, but especially to new businesses, as it can help them get the items they need to set up successful recycling without breaking the bank.

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