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.



When will the application be open?

This Grant Information Guide (GIG) will be released on August 25, 2023.

Application Submission Date

Proposals are due no later than 5 p.m. on September 25, 2023.

Funding Amount Available

$250,000 

Estimated Number of Grants

Twenty-Four (24)



Customer Service Support Sessions

MSDE will hold three customer service support sessions for interested applicants. During these sessions, MSDE personnel will review what applicants need to get started, the program requirements, as well as a walk-through of the application.


Customer Service Support Session 1

Wednesday, August 30, 2023
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Video Call Link


Customer Service Support Session 2

Wednesday, September 6, 2023
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Video Call Link

Customer Service Support Session 3

Monday, September 18, 2023
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Video Call Link


Questions

If you have questions about the application or the process, please contact the Program Manager:

Zachary Carey
Director of Science
Maryland State Department of Education 
(410) 767-0348
zachary.carey@maryland.gov