Grants
Waste Reduction + Innovation Grant
The Waste Reduction + Innovation Grant (WRIG) is available to eligible schools, businesses and nonprofits for planning, equipment, supplies and capital improvements that result in the significant reduction of solid waste and/or pollution created.
Waste reduction is the most environmentally preferred strategy for managing solid waste and is often coupled with pollution reduction activities. Waste reduction projects eliminate the use of materials that end up being discarded from production and sales processes. Waste and pollution reduction projects can take many different forms, including reusing source materials, bulk purchasing, packaging changes, transitions to alternative chemicals, technology enhancements and production redesign.
One-time grants of up to $50,000 will be awarded to eligible entities for planning, equipment, supplies and capital improvements that result in a significant reduction of solid waste and/or pollution created. Awardees must contribute a 10% cash match of the total project cost.
Download full grant guidelines here.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until all funds are exhausted. Applications are currently being accepted.
Eligibility
Businesses must meet the following criteria:
- Be one of the following types of businesses:
- For-profit
- Nonprofit
- Private college or university
- Place of worship
- School
- Ramsey County: Charter schools with less than 250 students and all private schools
- Washington County: All charter schools and all private schools
- Must have a permanent physical location in Ramsey or Washington counties of Minnesota.
- Be in good standing with the Minnesota Secretary of State and the Minnesota Department of Revenue at time of application.
- Any previous BizRecycling grantees must be in compliance with their previous grant contract.
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
- Residential apartment buildings
Use of Funds
Proposed projects must demonstrate one or more of the following:
- Significantly reduce the amount of solid waste and/or pollution created by the business.
- Support the implementation of an industry-specific solution.
- Support an effort to manage waste higher on the EPA’s Waste Management Hierarchy.
Examples of fundable items are listed below. For a full list, refer to the program guidelines.
Equipment & Materials
- Industry-specific equipment and supplies that eliminate solid waste from the production process or captures materials for reuse.
- Infrastructure improvements to enhance industry-specific waste reduction and recycling capabilities.
- Equipment and supplies that move businesses from disposable items to reusable options.
- High-efficiency equipment that leads to reductions in the use of harmful chemicals or pollution.
- Equipment and supplies that reduce or eliminate the use of target pollutions, including:
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
- Perchloroethylene (PERC)
- Ground level ozone
- Fine particulate matter (PM 2.5)
- Hazardous air pollutants (HAPs)
- PFAS
- Other pollutants as identified by R&E
Construction & Infrastructure
- Waste, recycling and organics management infrastructure improvements among co-operative businesses located within the same building or business park.
- Infrastructure improvements to enhance industry-specific waste reduction, recycling and pollution prevention capabilities.
- Electrification projects when moving away from high-emitting technologies.
Research & Development
- Industry-specific consultation costs to reduce the creation of solid waste at its source, which is beyond the expertise of R&E consultants.
- Costs related to supporting established research and development activities of products or services that would significantly reduce solid waste in Ramsey and Washington County. The company must be located within Ramsey or Washington counties.
- Partial funding for staff or consultation time to develop environmentally preferable purchasing plans.
- Partial funding for staff or consultation time to develop co-operative purchasing groups to leverage access to bulk materials which align with the business’s environmental purchasing plan.
Education & Engagement
- Partial funding for staff time to develop an onsite “Green Team.”
- Production and printing of custom signage, labels and education materials.
Sample of Previously Funded Projects
- Equipment to replace a Nitric Acid Etching system, which generates high amounts of solid and hazardous waste.
- Equipment to reclaim sprayed powder coat for reuse.
- Equipment and materials that transition from the use of solvent and oil-based products to water-based.
- Electric lawncare equipment when eliminating two-stroke engines.
- Equipment to increase the recovery of spent brewer’s grains for upcycling for food and farmers.
- Equipment to move mushroom retail trays to 100% compostable. Equipment to remove all non-recyclable plastic substrate bags from production process.
- Equipment and supplies to implement reusable containers for roasted coffee bean sales.
To Apply
Applicants must work with a BizRecycling Recycling Expert to submit a grant application. The Recycling Expert will conduct an initial site visit of your location. At the site visit, the Recycling Expert will provide recommendations for waste reduction and management improvements and discuss your project plan. They will help assemble necessary documentation and price quotes for the grant application. Applicants who have not had a site assessment will not be reviewed.
To set up your site assessment, email info@bizrecycling.com or call 651-768-6670.
Applications are currently being accepted.
Grant Application & Forms
Completed applications must include the following:
- Grant Application
- Price quotes for all requested items
- W-9
- Container Order Form (if applicable)
Rachel from Vikings & Goddesses in Saint Paul always wanted to do compostable packaging. The Waste Reduction + Innovation Grant allowed them to take time, do the research and create a 100% BPI-certified compostable frozen package product for their frozen pies and other baked goods.