The Chesapeake Bay Trust, the District of Columbia Department of Energy and Environment, and the Office of the State Superintendent of Education are excited to announce the District of Columbia Ditch the Disposables Award Program.
Donor Name: Chesapeake Bay Trust
State: District of Columbia
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 12/08/2022
Size of the Grant: $25,000
Details:
The goals of this Request for Applications (RFA) are to support food serving entities, School Food Authorities (SFAs), and Community Based Organizations (CBOs) that support schools in the District of Columbia in reducing food, food packaging, and food waste. Disposable foodware and single-use food service items are a consistent source of waste in the District of Columbia. Even when made from recyclable or compostable materials, most items end up landfilled, incinerated, or in local and regional waterways where they are a major source of pollution and eventually break down into harmful microplastics. A transition to reusables carries numerous benefits. There are many examples and case studies from across the country of costs savings for businesses after implementing such a transition, even after accounting for any labor, water, and electricity costs associated with reusable foodware.
Eligible Project Types
Projects can fall into one or more of the following four project areas:
- In-house on-site: Dishware and dishwashing for on-site dining operations
- In-house to-go: Reusable foodware for takeout, handled in-house
- Third-party reusables: Either procure services of or pilot a third-party reusable foodware system
Funding Information
Multiple tracks may be combined in one project, but the limit for all tracks, one or combined, is $25,000.
What this funds
Dishes and dishwashing for on-site dining, third-party reusable foodware service, reusable foodware for take-out, and projects that reduce food waste. SFAs may apply to any project area, but the fourth project area is only open to SFAs and CBOs that support schools. Food serving entities that already use reusable foodware for on-site dining are not eligible for the Dishes and Dishwashing project area.
- Dishes and dishwashing for on-site dining
- Third-party reusable foodware program
- Reusable foodware for takeout, handled in house
- Food waste reduction – only open to SFAs and CBOs supporting school food
Criteria
- Food Service Entities
- Full-service restaurants, limited-service restaurants, fast food restaurants, cafes, delicatessens, coffee shops, supermarkets, catering services, grocery stores, vending trucks or carts, food trucks, business or institutional/school cafeterias, including those operated by or on behalf of District departments and agencies, and other businesses selling or providing food within the District for consumption on or off premises that are locally and/or independently owned, have headquarters in the District, and have the majority of operations (measured by assets, gross receipts, or employees) in the District
- Non-profit/Faith-based Organizations
- that regularly serve food to its members and/or the public (such as houses of worship and food pantries)
- Businesses and Private Enterprises
- such as Business Improvement Districts or Main Streets applying with or on behalf of their member food service entities, or owners/managers of commercial spaces with food service entities among the tenants
- Third-Party Foodware Providers
- applying jointly with or on behalf of one or more food service entities that the foodware provider will work with for the project (such as entities with licensed commercial kitchens and/or licensed foodware sanitation facilities)
The funding partners welcome requests from nonprofit organizations, faith-based organizations, government agencies, universities/educational institutions, school food authorities, or private enterprises located within the District.
For more information, visit Awards to Reduce Waste.
