The MassDEP Reduce, Reuse, Repair Micro-Grant program provides grants of up to $10,000 to for-profit and non-profit organizations, regional authorities, eligible municipalities, and schools/colleges, for short-term waste reduction projects.
Donor Name: Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP)
State: Massachusetts
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 05/15/2024
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
Projects must focus on reducing waste generation and prolonging the lifespan of products via donation, rescue, reuse and/or repair in Massachusetts.
Funding Information
Individual Micro-Grants have a maximum award of $10,000, with a total available budget up to $125,000. MassDEP reserves the right to award more or less than the full budget available for this program.
Eligible Expenses
Grant funds may be used for costs associated with developing and implementing the proposed project such as, equipment, signage, outreach/education, event space rental fees, event marketing/promotion, professional services (e.g., legal, engineering, design) and new personnel (consultants, contractors, or staff that will dedicate additional hours to the proposed project for a specified and finite period of time).
Eligible Projects
Eligible projects include but are not limited to:
- Purchase inventory technology or other software to increase operational efficiencies. Examples include inventory management systems, online market-place platform development, environmental benefits calculators, and reporting systems.
- Develop or expand programs to collect and redistribute reusable clothing, footwear, bedding, electronics, home goods, and other items via social service agency networks, furniture banks, schools, and institutions.
- Develop reusable transport packaging systems that replace limited-life packaging used in manufacturing, transportation and/or distribution with durable alternatives designed for many years of use. Examples include the replacement of cardboard boxes with reusable hand-held plastic totes or crates and switching to reusable pallet wraps instead of using disposable plastic film used to secure loads onto pallets.
- Convert from single-use to reusable food service ware at schools, food service businesses, or institutional cafeterias (e.g., dishwashers, electrical, plumbing, minor kitchen modifications and/or reusable dishware). Note: Purchase of food service ware for establishing a new program/new construction is excluded.
- Install bulk dispensing systems in commercial, retail and/or hospitality settings for food, beverages, personal care products (soap, shampoo, lotion), or cleaning products. Projects must replace single-use packaging.
- Develop or expand programs to repair used furniture, appliances, electronics, bicycles, or durable household goods for resale or distribution. May include purchase of tools and supplies and/or set-up of training program.
- Develop textile/clothing/footwear repair programs, at or in conjunction with a second-hand goods retailer or distributor.
- Creation or expansion of food donation collection, storage, and distribution programs (e.g., purchase of community fridge or pantry at a community center for food rescue distribution).
- Develop community repair training or apprenticeship program for home goods, textiles, clothing, footwear, electronics, bicycles, etc.
- Develop and host trainings on deconstruction techniques targeting the construction industry, tech/carpentry schools, or individuals engaged in building and renovation work.
- Conduct a deconstruction pilot program involving one or more buildings (municipal or private).
- Promote recovery and resale of used building materials in remodel, renovation, and new construction projects to close the loop and reduce waste.
- Develop/expand and promote community tool-lending libraries or Library of Things.
- Develop and/or promote statewide community repair or fix-it events for the general public; set up a community repair space.
Eligible Applicants
- An organization or business (for-profit or non-profit) properly licensed to do business in Massachusetts.
- A regional entity, such as a solid waste management district, solid waste/recycling cooperative or regional planning authority, as long as the entity is recognized as a governmental body under Mass General Laws.
- An individual Massachusetts city or town, or a MA municipality acting as a lead for a multi-town regional initiative.
- Pre-K-12 schools, as well as colleges and universities, both public and private.
For more information, visit MassDEP.
