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: 10/11/2024
Size of the Grant: One-time grant of no less than $10,000 and up to $50,000 per business
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
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.
Program Goals
The Waste Reduction and Innovation Grant has the following program goals:

Increase waste reduction and recycling activities within the business community.
Support source specific reduction, recycling, and reuse needs.
Provide innovative solutions to waste reduction problems.
Support sustainable solutions to ensure growth of on-site efforts by staff and contractual services related to waste reduction and recycling.
Support efforts to manage operations higher on the waste management hierarchy as it relates to:

waste reduction and reuse activities.
market development activities.
food recovery and donation.
Composting/organics collection.
hard to recycle materials/ source separated materials.
large business, industrial and college campuses.

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.
Uses of funds 
Examples of fundable items are:

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 the research and development activities of products or services that would significantly reduce solid waste in Ramsey and Washington County. Company must be located within Ramsey or Washington counties.
Staff or consultation time to develop environmentally preferable purchasing plans.
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 

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.

Ineligible entities include:

Home-based businesses
All public entities including federal, state, county and city; public colleges and universities
Public K-12 schools in Ramsey County
Residential apartment buildings

For more information, visit BizRecycling.