Grant rewards up to $10,000 available to local organizations
In our ongoing efforts to reduce landfilled waste, the Wake County Division of Solid Waste Management is offering local businesses, educational institutions and nonprofit organizations the opportunity to apply for a grant to fund their waste diversion projects.
“Our annual Waste Prevention Grant Program is a way to bring innovative environmental ideas to the forefront and empower local organizations to take the initiative to improve the county's environmental health,” said Wake County Commissioner Shinica Thomas.
Applications are being accepted now through Oct. 16. All applicants must be located in Wake County. Grants range in value from $1,000–$10,000 and must be used to create a project that will encourage activities including reducing waste and increasing recycling, reuse of durable goods and composting. Projects should have a measurable impact and must be completed within 12 months, but extensions can be made.
Past projects have included AI-powered receptacles, community recycling and litter education programs and food waste reduction programs.
The 2025–26 grant recipients and projects included the following:
- Holly Springs High School was awarded $4,000 for its Composting Club to expand the collection and composting of organic waste.
- Partners for Environmental Justice was awarded $10,000 to build a composting system to serve the Crosslink Community Garden and surrounding community in southeast Raleigh.
- New Hope Baptist Church in Raleigh was awarded $10,000 to install bottle-filling fountains to replace single-use bottled water consumption by the church and its community partners.
- Toward Zero Waste was awarded $10,000 to expand the food recovery program SHARE (Stop Hunger and Restore Earth) to 10 additional public schools in Wake County.
Potential applicants can register for a free webinar to learn more about the program by contacting Bianca Howard at bianca.howard@wake.gov. Webinars will be offered on the following dates and times:
- Thursday, Aug. 27, 4–4:45 p.m.
- Tuesday, Sept. 1, noon–12:45 p.m.
- Thursday, Sept. 3, 6–6:45 p.m.
The Waste Prevention Grant Program has awarded various organizations financial assistance to promote waste reduction since 2004. For additional information about the program, expectations of grantees and awards, please visit wake.gov/waste-prevention-grants.
