MassDEP to launch $6 million Waste Reduction Innovation Grant in mid‑April with two award tracks

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) announced it will open applications in mid‑April for a new Waste Reduction Innovation Grant designed to spur commercial recycling and reuse projects across the Commonwealth.

MassDEP environmental analyst Joanne Lai said the program could award up to $6 million in total and will be distributed across two categories: smaller pilot/startup grants and larger capital investments. The agency expects the online application to go live around April 15, with a formal question period running from the launch date through June 2 and an application deadline in July.

The grant is split into two tracks. Category 1 (startup and pilot projects) will fund awards of $50,000–$100,000 with a minimum 25 percent applicant match; projects must be completed within 18 months. Category 2 (innovative capital investments) will fund awards of $500,000–$2,000,000 with a minimum 50 percent applicant match; projects in this track must be completed within 36 months. Category 2 is targeted to specific materials: textiles, container glass, construction and demolition (C&D) materials, bulky items and household lithium batteries. Category 1 accepts any material diverted from disposal so long as the proposed activity (processing, manufacturing, reuse or enabling technology) fits the grant criteria.

Joanne Lai described eligible costs and exclusions. Category 1 can cover equipment and other capital costs plus staff or consultant time, feasibility studies and marketing tied to commercializing a pilot. Category 2 funding is limited to equipment and capital costs. Awarded projects will be executed by contract; applicants should review the grant guidelines and are asked to submit a pro forma spreadsheet as part of the application package.

MassDEP staff said payment schedules differ by track. John Fisher of MassDEP explained that finalists will negotiate contract terms that specify initial reimbursements and later performance‑based payments tied to tonnage diversion. "A company would only get the full grant funds if they achieve the tonnage goal that they set in their application," Fisher said, describing the agency’s intent to align public payments with measurable diversion outcomes.

MassDEP said applicants must be registered in Massachusetts and that equipment purchased with grant funds must remain in the state and be used for the funded purpose. The agency will screen applicants for unresolved, active high‑level enforcement actions; applicants with minor or resolved past noncompliance are not automatically excluded. Awarded projects must comply with federal and state environmental requirements and complete within the required timelines.

MassDEP plans to post grant guidelines, application links and answers to submitted questions on its website. Agencies and attendees on the call recommended outreach through state business resources and accelerators — including MassDevelopment and the Office of Business Development — and suggested the department cross‑list the opportunity on the state’s business front door and existing industry email lists.

Why this matters: the grant is intended to accelerate in‑state processing capacity for difficult and emerging material streams, reduce reliance on out‑of‑state shipments, and move startups and pilot projects toward commercial scale.

MassDEP said it will accept questions during the formal question period and expects to notify awardees after its review process. More details, including the final application deadline and evaluation rubric, will be available on MassDEP’s grants page when applications open.