Waste Prevention Grants

Wake County Solid Waste Management has offered Waste Prevention Grants since 2004 to support projects that reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill. The program has supported schools, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and other eligible organizations undertaking waste prevention and diversion activities. Examples of previously funded work include expanded recycling collection, composting programs, repair activities, food recovery, reusable alternatives to disposable products, and other projects designed to divert materials from landfill. The current grant range is $1,000 to $10,000 per award, with projects expected to demonstrate a measurable impact on reducing waste sent to South Wake Landfill. Eligible projects may use strategies including waste prevention, reuse, recycling, repair, and composting. Projects should also incorporate education and communication strategies. However, projects that are exclusively focused on raising awareness are not appropriate for the program because the proposed work must produce a measurable waste-reduction impact. Grant funds may not be used for waste hauling costs, debt, legal fees, or the purchase of vehicles. Funds generally operate on a cost reimbursement basis, with grantees required to provide receipts, although Wake County will consider requests for advance payments on a case-by-case basis. No matching or cost-share requirement is stated in the provided program information. For-profit, not-for-profit, and educational organizations are eligible to apply. Applicants must either be based in Wake County, North Carolina, or have operations in Wake County. Proposed projects should be planned for completion within 12 months. Wake County may consider extensions of up to an additional 12 months on a case-by-case basis. Projects must comply with all applicable federal, state, and local statutes, rules, and regulations, including zoning, labor, and transportation laws. Successful grantees must also register as vendors with Wake County and sign a contract before grant funds can be disbursed. Applications must be submitted online no later than Friday, October 16, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Because no time zone is stated, the deadline is treated as Eastern Time under the supplied data-entry rules, with October 16, 2026 stored as the application close date. The source provides a Start your application link to an online Jotform Government application. Potential applicants are encouraged to discuss project ideas with the grant program manager before applying. No required letter of intent, concept paper, pre-proposal, notice of intent, or other pre-application gating step is identified in the supplied material. Wake County is offering free virtual information sessions through Microsoft Teams on August 27, September 1, and September 3, 2026. Each session covers the same information, including examples of successful projects and tips for submitting a strong application. Applicants can email bianca.howard@wake.gov to obtain the meeting link. Questions and advance project discussions may also be directed to the grant program manager at 919-856-6432. The source does not identify formal scoring criteria, a review schedule, an award notification date, or the total amount of funding available for the program. Grant recipients are subject to several post-award requirements. They must submit quarterly reports using a template and timeline provided by Wake County and accept a site visit from Wake County Solid Waste staff to assess progress toward project goals. Draft recycling signage and other communication materials produced with grant funds must be shared with Solid Waste staff to ensure consistency with county solid waste program guidelines. Recipients will be identified on the Wake County website and in media releases and are encouraged to participate in shared outreach opportunities. The source states that Wake County has offered these grants since 2004, but it does not expressly establish an annual, biennial, quarterly, or other fixed recurrence schedule, so no recurring cycle is assumed.

Discuss the project idea with the grant program manager in advance; attend a free information session for successful-project examples and application tips; demonstrate a measurable reduction in waste sent to South Wake Landfill; include education and communication but do not submit an awareness-only project; avoid requesting waste hauling costs, debt, legal fees, or vehicle purchases