Notice of Funds Available: Edible Food Recovery Grant Program (FY 2021–22 and 2022–23)

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

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

The Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) administers a program to provide opportunities for the support of new and expanded edible food recovery and food waste prevention projects (food recovered for people or source reduction)
in California. Projects must reduce the amount of food being disposed in landfills, thereby helping to achieve the state’s short-lived climate pollutant goals.

Awards

Note: “EFR” followed by a number is the cycle code for the Edible Food Recovery Grant Program.

Cycle 1: EFR1 Awards | Approval of Awards, March 9, 2022 (Revised July 19, 2022)

Cycle 2: EFR2 Awards | Approval of Awards, March 9, 2022 (Revised July 19, 2022) 

Criteria

Approval of Criteria, November 2, 2021

Eligibility

Applicants

  • 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).
    • Nonprofit organizations must be registered with the federal government under 501(c)3, (c)4, (c)6 or (c)10 of the Internal Revenue Code, and must be registered in the State of California with the Department of Justice.
    • 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.
  • State agencies (including offices, departments, bureaus, and boards).
  • University of California campuses, California State University campuses, or the California Community College campuses.
  • Solid Waste Facilities.
  • Public School Districts.
  • Qualifying Tribal Entities.
    • A Qualifying Tribal Entity is defined as a 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

  • Food Recovery Projects. Projects that result in food that would otherwise be destined for landfills, being recovered and distributed to people. Any food waste residuals from the food recovered must be composted, sent to a digester, used as animal feed, or otherwise diverted within the project service area, if available.
  • Food Waste Prevention Projects. Projects that prevent food waste from being generated and becoming waste that is normally destined for landfills. Food waste prevention projects are only eligible if the proposed grant project includes an edible food recovery project. Examples of food waste prevention projects include:
    • 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.
    • Creating and expanding education and outreach programs that result in quantifiable reductions in food waste.

Funding

  • $2,850,000 available for fiscal year (FY) 2021–22
  • $1,900,000 available for fiscal year (FY) 2022–23 (subject to FY 2022‒23 budget approval, and funding availability)
  • $150,000–$250,000 per grant award

Timeline and Cycle Details

Grant Administration Documents

Terms and Conditions (PDF)
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 (PDF)
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