As a national leader in waste prevention, Seattle Public Utilities is committed to supporting community-led efforts to create less waste and bring us all closer to a Zero Waste future.
We developed the Waste-Free Communities Matching Grant to support community and business leadership and innovation around preventing waste, increasing community access to waste prevention benefits and opportunities, reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, conserving resources, and reducing the amount of materials that go to waste in Seattle.
Each year we award up to $20,000 per grantee from an annual fund of $100,000 to some of the most inspiring and innovative community-led waste prevention projects happening in our region.
Congratulations to the 2020-21 Waste-Free Communities Matching Grant Recipients!
Blue Daisi Consulting – helping small businesses identify ways to save money through implementing waste prevention practices
Cham Refugees Community – training youth to collect, repair, repurpose, and resell clothing and household goods
Eco Collective – expanding their store’s bulk bar where customers can bring their own reusable containers to fill with personal care and cleaning
products
Neighborhood Farmers Markets – increasing the use of reusable produce bags at farmers markets
Rainier Valley Food Bank – increasing capacity to rescue more food to distribute to low-income and unsheltered residents in Seattle
Rebuilding Together Seattle – implementing a home repair/rehab demonstration project using primarily reclaimed and reused building materials
Refugee Artisan Initiative – creating sustainable employment for immigrant and refugee women through turning unwanted fabric waste into new products to sell
University of Washington Food Pantry – increasing capacity to rescue more food to distribute to low-income students and staff at the University of Washington
Zero Waste Washington – providing mini-grants to help businesses and organizations install water refill stations
Interested in What We Fund & Applying For Your Own Grant?
1. Your project must increase waste prevention through starting a new project or expanding an existing activity. We do not fund projects focused on recycling, off-site composting, or litter clean-up.
2. Your project must take place within Seattle City Limits or have a direct impact on Seattle’s waste stream.
3. Your project must include one or more of the following focus areas:
- Innovation: Test or expand new approaches, develop new technologies, or bring new waste prevention opportunities to Seattle.
- Community Engagement: Effectively engage communities of color, immigrants, refugees, low-income, people with disabilities, seniors, young adults, youth, children, and/or small businesses.
- Community Benefits: Help Seattle communities, such as providing free or low-cost resources or job training for homeless and low-income community members.
Have your own idea for a waste free grant? You can get advice on your project and application by calling (206) 233-2534, or emailing wastefreegrants@seattle.gov . Thank you for helping to support SPU & our grantee’s efforts to live in a waste free community!