Federal Government Opens Applications for Composting and Food Waste Reduction Projects

Last month, the federal government announced it will be accepting applications for Composting and Food Waste Reduction (CFWR) pilot projects. This will be the fifth year of this successful U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) program, which has provided grant funding to more than 100 local governments and others throughout the United States. MetroSTOR is interested in working with interested local governments to draft and submit a CFWR application that would help them achieve local waste reduction and composting goals.

Composting and Food Waste Reduction (CFWR) cooperative agreements encourage municipalities to establish projects that develop and test strategies for planning and implementing municipal compost plans and food waste reduction plans. Implementation activities should increase access to compost for agricultural producers, improve soil quality and encourage innovative, scalable waste management plans that reduce and divert food waste from landfills.

According to an FAQ document on the USDA website, priority will be given for each of the following elements that are included in a proposed project: 

• Anticipate or demonstrate economic benefits for the targeted community; 
• Incorporate plans to make compost easily accessible to agricultural producers,  including community gardeners, school gardens, and producers; 
• Integrate food waste reduction strategies, including innovative food recovery efforts such as, but not limited to, food gleaning, storage, and preservation techniques;
• Include a robust plan that describes collaboration with multiple partners.

MetroSTOR provides a variety of waste bins and containers that can be used to collect food waste at specific locations, including apartment buildings, community centers, and libraries. MetroSTOR’s innovative containers can help communities increase food waste diversion and reduce contamination, as the residents who utilize these containers are often devoted recyclers.  The containers are being installed in a variety of municipalities throughout the U.S., are instantly recognizable by residents and visitors, and use color-coding and visual language cues to encourage waste diversion.

The food waste can then be transported to a local compost facility instead of being dumped at a landfill or incinerator. This USDA program is consistent with the recently issued National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss and Waste and Recycling Organics, which supports policies that divert food waste, feed people, address Climate Change and Environmental Justice, and promote a Circular Economy.

In FY 2023, USDA awarded $11.5 million through 38 awards to local governments, schools, and Tribes. A similar number of grants and funding is available for this round of CFWR projects. USDA expects to provide between $75,000 and $400,000 to each awardee for these projects, which are expected to last two years. 

Several of the projects approved for FY 2023 included drop off food waste components similar to what MetroSTOR provides to municipal customers. Applications are due by September 4, 2024. If you are interested in obtaining more information about the USDA CFWR grant program and partnering with MetroSTOR to apply for such funding, please contact Nigel Deacon at n.deacon@metrostor.com  or David Biderman at David@bidermanconsulting.com