The Waste Reduction & Innovation Grant (WRIG) is available to eligible schools, businesses and nonprofits for planning, equipment, supplies and capital improvements that result in the significant reduction of solid waste that the business creates.
Donor Name: BizRecycling
State: Minnesota
County: Ramsey County (MN), Washington County (MN)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 10/15/2025
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: 2 Years
Details:
Waste reduction is the most environmentally preferred strategy for managing solid waste. Waste reduction projects eliminate the use of materials that end up being discarded from production and sales processes. Waste reduction projects can take many different forms, including reusing source materials, bulk purchasing, packaging changes, technology enhancements or production redesign.
Funding Information
One-time grants of up to $50,000 will be awarded to eligible businesses and nonprofits for planning, equipment, supplies and capital improvements that result in a significant reduction of solid waste that the business creates. Applicants must contribute a 10% cash match of the total project cost.
Grant Period
18 months.
Uses of funds
- Equipment & Materials
- Industry-specific equipment and supplies that eliminate solid waste from the production process or captures materials for reuse.
- Infrastructure improvements to enhance industry-specific waste reduction and recycling capabilities.
- Equipment and supplies that move businesses from disposable items to reusable options.
- Construction & Infrastructure
- Waste, recycling and organics management infrastructure improvements among co-operative businesses located within the same building or business park.
- Infrastructure improvements to enhance industry-specific waste reduction and recycling capabilities.
- Research & Development
- Industry-specific consultation costs to reduce the creation of solid waste at its source, which is beyond the expertise of R&E consultants.
- Costs related to supporting established research and development activities of products or services that would significantly reduce solid waste in Ramsey and Washington County. The company must be located within Ramsey or Washington counties.
- Partial funding for staff or consultation time to develop environmentally preferable purchasing plans.
- Partial funding for staff or consultation time to develop co-operative purchasing groups to leverage access to bulk materials which align with the business’s environmental purchasing plan.
- Education & Engagement
- Partial funding for staff time to develop an onsite “Green Team.”
- Production and printing of custom signage, labels and education materials.
Eligibility Criteria
Businesses must meet the following criteria:
- Be one of the following types of businesses:
- For profit
- Nonprofit
- Private college or university
- Place of worship
- Schools
- Ramsey County: Charter schools with less than 250 students and all private schools
- Washington County: All charter schools and all private schools
- Must have a permanent physical location in Ramsey or Washington counties of Minnesota.
- Be in good standing with the Minnesota Secretary of State and the Minnesota Department of Revenue at time of application.
- Previous recipients of BizRecycling grants may apply. Applicants must be in compliance with their previous grant contract.
For more information, visit BizRecycling.
