School Waste Reduction and Composting Program

Purpose

This grant provides support to the Maryland Association for Outdoor and Environmental Education (MAEOE) to award grants to county boards and public schools to develop and implement programs for reducing food waste and to establish composting of pre- and post-consumer waste. Grant funds can be utilized to support educational initiatives, infrastructure improvements, and training programs.

According to the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), approximately 774,400 tons of food waste was disposed of in Maryland in 2020. Of that, only 167,200 tons were recycled at organic recycling facilities. The balance was disposed of in landfills and incinerators. As a result, the Maryland General Assembly passed House Bill 264/Senate Bill 483 entitled Solid Waste management – Organics Recycling and Waste Diversion – Food Residuals, which requires certain entities that generate food residuals to separate the food residuals from other solid waste and ensure that the food residuals are diverted from final disposal in refuse systems. This grant program provides funding to schools and school systems to divert and reduce their food wastes consistent with the General Assembly’s 2021 action and MDE’s regulations under the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) 26.04.13 Food Residuals – Organics Recycling and Waste Diversion.

Grant Information Guide (GIG)

Application For Participation

Application Submission Date

$250,000 

Twenty-Four (24)