Grants and funding opportunities
School waste reduction and recycling grants
We have grants, free container signage and technical assistance available to help schools start or improve recycling programs.
School recycling mini grant
Preschools, K-12 schools, colleges and universities in Hennepin County may select up to $5,000 worth of containers and BPI-certified compostable bags from the county’s product list.
Compostable bags are only available to applicants starting new organics for composting programs to line their containers, not organics programs that are already in place.
- Mini grant flyer (PDF, 1MB)
- Program information, eligible project activities, and allowable expenses can be found in the mini grant guidelines (PDF, 1MB).
- For application materials, submit a school recycling and waste reduction inquiry form.
Meetings
Thursday, February 19 from 2 to 2:30 p.m.
A virtual information meeting about the school recycling mini grants.
Register for the mini grant information meeting
Application
Applications accepted until Thursday, October 15, 2026, or until the annual program budget is exhausted, whichever occurs first.
School waste reduction and recycling grant
Grants for preschools, K-12 schools, colleges, and universities to start or improve programs to divert recycling and organic materials like food and compostable paper, from the trash.
Funding can also be used to take steps to prevent waste, including wasted food.
- Grant flyer (PDF, 1MB)
- Program information, eligible project activities and allowable expenses can be found in the grant guidelines (PDF, 1MB).
- For application materials, submit a school recycling and waste reduction inquiry form.
Round one funding
Available to two-year colleges, Head Start programs, and preschools and K-12 schools where at least 50% of students are eligible for educational benefits, such as the former free or reduced lunch program.
Individual schools may apply for up to $15,000, and public schools may apply for up to $45,000 across the district.
Application
Applications due on March 12, 2026.
Round two funding
Open to any K-12 school, preschool, college, or university in Hennepin County.
Application
Applications accepted from April 2, 2026 through October 15, 2026, or until the annual program budget is exhausted, whichever occurs first.
Meetings
Wednesday, February 11 from 9 to 10 a.m.
A virtual information meeting about the school waste reduction and recycling grant.
Recently awarded grants
School waste reduction and recycling grant recipients
In 2025, we awarded six grants totaling $50,450 to schools to reduce waste and expand recycling and organics programs. Grant recipients include one public school district, two charter schools, two preschools, and one university.
Casa de Corazón Centennial Lakes, Edina - $1,700 to start collecting organics in the classrooms and kitchen.
Fraser School, Richfield - $12,250 to improve their recycling program and start collecting organics in the kitchen, classrooms, and bathrooms.
Lincoln International High School, Minneapolis - 14,400 to add recycling containers in classrooms and offices and start collecting organics in the kitchen and cafeteria.
Noble Academy, Brooklyn Park - $7,100 to reduce cafeteria waste by introducing stainless steel trays and trash lids with magnetic catchers, as well as expanding their reusable flatware inventory.
Roosevelt High School, Minneapolis Public Schools - $1,300 for the Roosevelt Culinary Arts to provide reusable to-go containers to students and eliminate single-use disposables in the classroom.
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis - $15,000 to improve waste sorting practices at the 3M Arena at Mariucci through unified collection bins.