Business recycling and waste prevention grants

We provide funding and assistance for businesses and organizations to start or improve programs to divert recyclables and/or organics.

Eligible recipients include for-profit businesses and organizations, including multifamily housing, and non-profit organizations. Grant activities must take place in Hennepin County.

MNimize single-use plastic reduction program

MNimize is a program of the Minnesota Waste Wise Foundation and Hennepin County that provides support and recognition to food businesses working to reduce single-use plastic waste.

Get started by submitting an inquiry form, emailing hello@mnimize.org, or calling 651-292-4664.

After reaching out, you will:

• Do a site visit with the MNimize team to establish baseline of single-use plastic use, verify tier achievement, and identify opportunities for further reduction.
• Commit to the MNimize Pledge of offering single-use plastic accessories, such as plastic utensils and straws, by request only.
• Take additional actions to reduce single-use plastics to be recognized at one of four achievement levels.

MNimize rebate

Eligible participating businesses that are emerging small business enterprises (ESBEs) can get up to $1,000 through the MNimize Rebate toward expenses to reduce single-use plastic.

This rebate could be used to purchase durable reusable or certified compostable alternatives to replace single-use plastic items or for other creative plastic reduction strategies.

Spread the word

If you know businesses who might be interested, download the MNimize media kit (DOCX, 2MB) for resources to spread the word about this opportunity.

Grants for bins and compostable bags

We have free resources and technical assistance for small businesses and nonprofit organizations to start or improve recycling and organics recycling.

Applicants may select up to $3,000 worth of containers and compostable bags from the county's product list. Learn more in our bin bag grant flyer (PDF, 1MB). 

Application

• Bin and compostable bag grant guidelines (PDF, 1MB) 
• For application materials, submit a business recycling information online request form.

Waste prevention grants

This grant program funds projects that prevent waste in the business sector. Areas of focus include:

• Reuse and repair
• Replace disposables with reusables
• Prevention of food waste
• Projects around research and development to prevent waste

Available funds

This year $400,000 is available for business waste prevention grants.

Application

Applications are due by Tuesday, April 7 at 3 p.m. Grant flyer with overview of the grant program (PDF, 1MB). 

Information meeting

Thursday, March 5 from 2 to 3 p.m.

Attend a virtual information meeting to hear about project ideas, understand the application process, and ask questions. Register for the virtual information meeting.

How to apply

You need to be registered to submit an application. There has been an upgrade to the Supplier Portal, so you may need to register or re-register. For detailed instructions on how to register and submit an application, including video tutorials and more, visit the Supplier Portal information page.

Access the RFP and apply

• Visit the Supplier Portal.
• Under Contracting opportunities, view the application materials by selecting business waste prevention grants.
• Submit materials through the supplier portal before 3 p.m. on the application due date. 

Waste prevention project examples

See our project examples for how waste prevention grant funding could be used at your business.

• Reducing food waste with food waste tracking software (PDF, 1MB)
• Reducing shipping waste (PDF, 1MB)
• Reusable beer bottle system at breweries (PDF, 1MB)
• Reusable containers in a healthcare setting (PDF, 1MB) 

Reporting information for current grantees

Grantees are to submit a final report (for Container and Accelerated grant recipients) or both an interim report and a final report (for Competitive grant recipients). These reports provide crucial information for Hennepin County to evaluate and continue the program. Grant managers will provide templates to grantees.

For more information see an example of a grant report (PDF, 1MB).

Recently awarded grants

Waste prevention grants awarded in 2025

In September 2025, the county awarded 12 Business Waste Prevention grants totaling $165,215. Grant projects will take place in five cities. 

The grants will:

• Help businesses reduce waste by giving them money to buy reusable items like dishes, cups, and cleanroom gear instead of using disposable ones.
• Support creative reuse projects that turn trash into useful products, like recycled plastic or salvaged goods for resale.
• Teach people useful skills like sewing and mending, so they can fix things instead of throwing them away.
• Make eco-friendly upgrades like fixing water systems or collecting pottery waste, so businesses can be more sustainable.

Andrea's Vintage Bridal

$2,500 to clean vintage wedding gowns in Minneapolis.

AudreyRose Vintage

$2,500 for signage to drive store traffic and equipment to process secondhand goods in Minneapolis.

Cool Trash

$50,000 to produce recycled plastics using other businesses' plastic waste in Minneapolis.

Curiosity Studio

$7,650 to teach mending and sewing classes in Minneapolis.

Curiouser Foods

$3,900 for a dishwasher to be able to offer reusable food serving ware in Saint. Anthony.

Gastrotruck

$3,300 to expand reusable food serving ware in Minneapolis.

Kiwi Cares

$50,000 to increase collection of strollers for reuse in Minneapolis.

Photo Letter Project

$2,500 to salvage damaged products destined for trash but for resale instead in Minneapolis.

Prevailing Medical

$4,065 to repair a water de-ionizing system to eliminate buying bottled water and provide reusable cleanroom footwear to replace disposable shoe covers in Plymouth.

r.World Reusables

$20,000 to increase reusable cups at venues, events, or businesses in Hennepin County, based in Hopkins.

Spark Youth

$2,800 to offer reusable food serving ware and food storage containers to reduce single-use disposables in Minneapolis.

The Workshop

$16,000 for equipment to collect pottery waste for reusing onsite instead of being trashed in Minneapolis.