Grant Types
The 2023 grant cycle closed on March 3, 2023. Grantee selection will be announced on May 19, 2023.
StopWaste is offering 1.1 million dollars in grant opportunities to nonprofits, businesses, and institutions with projects aimed at increasing individual, business, and community involvement in the prevention of waste in Alameda County.
Read about the six grant categories below to start your application process:
Food Waste Prevention & Recovery Grants
Available to nonprofits and businesses, these grants fund innovative pilots and projects that prevent edible food from going to compost or landfill by recovering and redistributing it to feed people, or by preventing the production of surplus edible food through product or process redesign. The goal is to reduce the amount of surplus edible food generated and/or to donate surplus food. Up to $20,000 per grant.
Surplus Food Donation Equipment Grants
The Surplus Food Donation Equipment Grant focus area, provides funding to support the recovery or donation of surplus edible food that would otherwise go to waste, thereby increasing capacity for businesses to donate food and/or organizations to receive more food, safely transport and distribute food for donation. Up to $10,000 per grant.
Community Food Systems Grants
Available to nonprofits and businesses, these grants fund community-rooted and driven projects that address gaps and shortfalls of the current industrial food system through the implementation of innovative circular food economy practices providing longer-term strategies to improve food access, address equity, economic opportunities, and community health. The goal is to support efforts that prevent the wasting of healthy, culturally appropriate, and locally grown food and ensure it is being equitably distributed to communities in need. Up to $10,000 per grant.
Reusable Transport Packaging Grants
Available to nonprofits and businesses, 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.
Reuse and Repair Grants
Available to nonprofits and businesses, these grants fund innovative projects that prevent waste through reuse, repair, deconstruction, redistribution, product or process redesign, recovery, and other ways that keep goods and other materials out of disposal or recycling. The goal is to conserve natural resources and stimulate economic activity in the reuse and recovery sectors. Up to $20,000 per grant.
Reusable Foodware Infrastructure Grants
Available to businesses, nonprofits, and institutions, these grants fund innovative projects that explore the feasibility of replacing single-use, disposable foodware with reusable systems. The goal is to eliminate single-use foodware and instead develop local infrastructure to make reusable foodware accessible to businesses and consumers. Award range: $5,000 to $50,000 per grant.
Reusable Foodware Mini-Grants
No Deadline - Apply Anytime! Individual food service operators, such as restaurants, churches, cafeterias etc., looking to switch from disposable to reusable foodware can receive hands-on support and incentives up to $2,500 for reusable foodware and other expenses through StopWaste’s partnership with ReThink Disposable.
Free Indoor Food Scrap Bins
No Deadline - Apply Anytime! Make separating food scraps, food-soiled paper and plant debris easier with up to $500 for indoor green containers and lids. Available to qualifying Alameda County businesses, institutions, and multi-family residential properties (5+ units).