FY 2018-19 Food Waste Prevention and Rescue Grant Program

This grant cycle was funded using FY 2017-18 monies, but awarded in FY 2018-19.

The application for fiscal year (FY) 2021-22 and 2022-23 is now closed.

Awards |Submitted Application Listing | Criteria | Eligibility | Funding | Timeline and Cycle Details | Grant Administration Documents

The Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) administers the Food Waste Prevention and Rescue Grant Program pursuant to Public Resources Code section 42999 of the Public Resources Code. The purpose of this competitive grant program is to lower overall greenhouse gas emissions by expanding existing or establishing new food waste prevention and/or rescue projects in California to reduce the amount of food being disposed in landfills.

The Food Waste Prevention and Rescue Grant Program is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy and improving public health and the environment—particularly in disadvantaged and low-income communities. The Cap-and-Trade program also creates a financial incentive for industries to invest in clean technologies and develop innovative ways to reduce pollution. California Climate Investment projects include affordable housing, renewable energy, public transportation, zero-emission vehicles, environmental restoration, more sustainable agriculture, recycling and much more. For more information, visit California Climate Investments.

Awards

Note: “FW” followed by a number is the cycle code for the Food Waste Prevention and Rescue Grant Program.
Cycle 3: FW3 Awards (PDF) | Approval of Awards, April 24, 2019

Submitted Application Listing

Per California Climate Investments Funding Guidelines a listing of all submitted applications for this grant cycle are available. This includes submitted applications that may not be selected for funding. Any additional information of interest may be made available after the cycle is awarded (tentatively scheduled for April/May 2019) via California Public Records Act Request.

Criteria

Approval of Criteria, December 10, 2018

Eligibility

Applicants

Only two distinct and seperate applications per qualifying entity will be accepted (this also applies to each campus for the University of California, the California State University, or California Community Colleges). Eligible applicants may submit an individual, cooperative (typically for two or more private entities), or regional application (typically for two or more local government entities). For a cooperative or regional application, one entity must be identified as the Lead Participant to act on behalf of the participating entities. A maximum of three other participants are allowed because it is not efficient for one entity to administer the grant on behalf of a large number of participants. Lead Participants and participating entities are subject to the two-application rule. Eligible applicants include:

  • Local governments (cities, counties, or cities and counties).
    • Cities, counties, and cities and counties as defined in Public Resources Code section 30109.
    • Regional or local sanitation agencies, waste agencies, or Joint Powers Authorities.
  • Nonprofit organizations (except private schools) registered with the federal government under 501(c)3, (c)4, (c)6 or (c)10 of the Internal Revenue Code.
  • B-Corp and Benefit Corporations.
  • Private, for-profit entities.  A “private, for-profit entity” is defined as a business intended to operate at a profit and return a profit to its owners.  The business must be qualified to do business in California and be in good standing with all applicable California state agencies, including, but not limited to, the Secretary of State and the Franchise Tax Board.  Any and all subsidiaries, divisions or affiliated businesses are considered part of the primary business entity for the purpose of applying for and receiving a grant award.  A business is considered an “affiliated business” if it has at least one owner with a forty (40) percent or greater interest in another applicant business.
  • State or federal agencies (including offices, department, bureaus, and boards).
  • University of California campuses, California State University campuses, or the California Community College campuses.
  • Solid Waste Facilities.
  • Public School Districts.
  • Qualifying Indian Tribes, defined as an Indian tribe, band, nation or other organized group or community, residing within the borders of California, which:
  1. Is recognized for special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of the status of its members as Indians; or
  2. Can establish that it is a government entity and which meets the criteria of the grant program.

Projects

Eligible projects include:

  • Food waste prevention projects that prevent food waste from being generated. Examples include, but are not limited to: modernizing production and handling practices to prevent and reduce food preparation waste; identifying and modifying ordering practices that result in measurable decreases in food waste; education and outreach programs that result in quantifiable reductions in food waste.
  • Food rescue projects that result in edible food being rescued and distributed to people.  Food waste residuals from the project should be composted, sent to a digester, or otherwise diverted from landfills, if those services are available in the jurisdiction where the project is located.

Funding

  • $5,750,000 is available for fiscal year (FY) 2018–19 (using FY 2017-18 funds).
  • The minimum grant award is $50,000 and the maximum grant award is $500,000 per application.

Timeline and Cycle Details

Grant Administration Documents

Terms and Conditions (Revised April 2019)
Notice: Submission of an application constitutes an acknowledgment that you have read these Terms and Conditions and understood and agreed that they will be part of the Grant Agreement upon an award of any grant funds.

The text of these Terms and Conditions may not be altered, changed or revised in any way, except in writing by mutual agreement of the parties pursuant to the Amendment provision herein. In the event of any dispute regarding the content of these Terms and Conditions, the original document contained in the grant cycle file located at the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, 1001 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 will control.  These Terms and Conditions are applicable only to the specified cycle and/or Fiscal Year of the particular grant program specified.

Procedures and Requirements (Revised April 2019)
Notice: These Procedures and Requirements are in draft form. Upon issuance of Grant Agreement, these Procedures and Requirements shall become final.

The Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery reserves the right to make any necessary changes to the Procedures and Requirements prior to issuance of the Grant Agreement. Any such changes will be non-negotiable.  In the event that any changes are made to the Procedures and Requirements, all Grantees will be notified as to what specific changes have been made. 

Once the Grant Agreement has been issued and the Procedures and Requirements have become final, the text of the incorporated Procedures and Requirements may not be altered, changed or revised in any way, except in writing by mutual agreement of the parties pursuant to the Amendment provision contained in the Terms and Conditions. In the event of any dispute regarding the content of the incorporated Procedures and Requirements, the original document contained in the grant cycle file located at the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, 1001 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 will control. These Procedures and Requirements are applicable only to the specific cycle and/or Fiscal Year of the particular grant program specified.

If you require assistance in obtaining access to these documents, please contact: grantassistance@calrecycle.ca.gov.

Food Waste Prevention and Rescue Grant Program Homepage

For more information, contact GHGreductions@calrecycle.ca.gov