Composting And Organics Recycling For Municipalities
Funding for Municipal Food Scraps Recycling Initiatives Now Accepting Applications. Learn more about the funding opportunity.
Local Solid Waste Management Plan
State and federal law gives localities the responsibility for planning and implementing materials management strategies. Each municipality and county in New York State is required to be part of a solid waste management planning unit (most planning units are single counties) who are responsible for developing and implementing their local solid waste management plan. Organics management should play a key role in managing organic materials within the boundaries of the planning unit. Planning units can
- Manage an organics recycling facility (composting, anaerobic digestion, land application, etc.)
- Develop food scraps drop-off program
- Provide residential organics collection
- Host home composting workshops
- Host backyard composting bin sales
- Provide outreach and education material on reducing wasted food at home and home composting
Starting and Managing an Organics Recycling Facility
Municipalities across New York State manage organic materials such as yard trimmings, food scraps, biosolids, etc. via composting, land application and anaerobic digestion.
Organics Recycling Facilities & Regulations
Tools for Municipalities
- The 'How to Build a Municipal Food Waste Strategy' toolkit (leaves DEC's website) developed by the NYS Pollution Prevention Institute is a free, interactive toolkit that municipalities can use to design, implement, and manage food waste programs at the local level.
Celebrate 2024 New York State Compost Awareness Week
New York State joins the international community in celebrating Compost Awareness Week each year in early May. Join us in preparing to celebrate 2023 NYS Compost Awareness Week May 5 - 11, 2024. This year's theme will be COMPOST...Nature's Climate Champion! Learn more about the annual poster and video contests. (Link leaves DEC's website) These contests run every year from September 1 to November 4.
Email [email protected] if you are interested in connecting with other compost educators or community organizers on 2023 NYS Compost Awareness Week or receiving the Compost Awareness Week Outreach Toolkit. Learn more about NYS Compost Awareness Week.
Funding Opportunities
DEC Municipal Funding for Food Scraps Recycling Initiatives -- Application Period Closed
The goal of this funding program is to assist municipalities in starting or expanding municipal food scraps recycling programs. To ensure equitable access and development of food scraps recycling opportunities for all New Yorkers, this year's opportunity will prioritize the first half of available funds for eligible projects serving Environmental Justice and Disadvantaged communities.
Approximately $2 million is available for funding of Municipal Food Scraps Recycling Initiatives. The first $1,000,000 will prioritize eligible projects that dedicate at least 50% of the total requested funding to serving environmental justice communities.
2023 Amendment: Approximately $750,000 has been additionally allocated to this grant program to fund additional projects.
The following types of projects are included in this opportunity:
- Creating or expanding programs to increase residential food scraps recycling
- Creating or expanding food scraps recycling programs and facilities
Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis from May 2, 2022 3:00PM EST to October 4, 2023 3:00PM EST. All projects will be evaluated by DEC for eligibility in the order in which they are received (first-in, first-out). The application period for this grant program has closed.
DEC Municipal Waste Reduction and Recycling (MWRR) State Assistance Program
The MWRR program is a state assistance program for waste reduction, recycling and household hazardous waste (HHW). Funding is provided on a 50% reimbursement rate for eligible costs. Organics management projects are eligible under this state assistance program.
- Grants for Recycling Coordination and Education Projects: Awarded on an annual basis. Applications accepted August, September and October of each year.
- Grants for Recycling Capital Projects (equipment and facilities): Applications accepted on an ongoing basis.
DEC Climate Smart Communities Grant Program
The Climate Smart Communities (CSC) Grant program provides 50/50 matching grants to cities, towns, villages and counties of New York State for eligible climate adaption and mitigation projects.
The Climate Smart Communities Grant program is now accepting applications. The deadline for the 2023 round is July 28, 2023.
USDA Composting and Food Waste Reduction Cooperative Agreements
Composting and Food Waste Reduction (CFWR) cooperative agreements assist local and municipal governments with projects that develop and test strategies for planning and implementing municipal compost plans and food waste reduction plans. Implementation activities will increase access to compost for agricultural producers, improve soil quality and encourages innovative, scalable waste management plans that reduce and divert food waste from landfills.
Note: This funding opportunity is currently closed.
NYS P2I Community Grants Program
Funding available for community organizations, municipal departments, and other public sector and not-for-profit entities for projects that raise awareness and understanding of pollution prevention practices and lead to implementation at the local level. Learn more.
Note: This funding opportunity is now closed. This is an annual funding program.
DEC Municipal Funding for Food Scraps Reduction, Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling - Awardees Announced
The goal of this funding program was to assist municipalities in creating and expanding programs to reduce wasted food, donate wholesome food and recycle food scraps (composting, anaerobic digestion, etc.)
Municipal Food Scraps Reduction, Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling Awards (PDF)
Note: This funding opportunity is currently closed.
Stay Connected
Solid Waste & Recycling Newsletter
Sign up for DECDelivers Solid Waste and Recycling topic to stay up to date with news, regulatory requirements and changes, funding opportunities, and upcoming events in the materials management industry.
Annual Conferences
- November 14-16, 2023: NYSAR3 Annual Recycling Conference - Cooperstown, NY (link leaves DEC's website)
- February 6-9, 2024: Compost 2024 -- Daytona Beach, Florida (link leaves DEC's website)
- April 2024: NYS Organics Summit -- Location To Be Determined
- May 19-22, 2024: Federation Conference -- Bolton Landing, NY (link leaves DEC's website)
Professional Materials Management Organizations
- New York State Association for Reduction, Reuse and Recycling (NYSAR3) (leaves DEC website) is a professional organization of materials management professionals dedicated to providing statewide leadership on waste reduction, reuse and recycling issues and practices to improve the environment. The Organics Council, a subgroup of NYSAR3, are committed to reducing wasted food, recovering edible food and diverting food scraps, yard trimmings, manure, and other organic materials from the waste stream through sustainable materials management strategies. They meet regularly through teleconference to share news and resources, plan workshops, conferences and much more.
- New York Solid Waste Association of North America - NY (SWANA-NY) (leaves DEC website) is an organization of solid waste professionals committed to environmental stewardship and the advancement of sustainable environmental technology.
- New York State Association for Solid Waste Management (NYSASWM) (leaves DEC website) is an organization of NYS solid waste professionals addressing issues that affect solid waste management in New York State as well as issues at the federal level.
- United States Composting Council (USCC) (leaves DEC website) is a national organization of compost manufacturers, compost marketers, equipment manufacturers, academic institutions, public agencies, nonprofit groups, and consulting/engineering firms dedicated to the development, expansion and promotion of the composting industry.
DMM, Bureau of Solid Waste Management
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233