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Commission approves $1.5M in 0‑Waste grant awards to community programs
Summary
The Commission approved funding recommendations for 11 diversion grantees (about $1.5M total in RFP), prioritizing tons diverted, cost per ton and co‑benefits such as workforce development; four grantees were new to the program.
The San Francisco Commission on the Environment voted May 26 to approve staff recommendations for 0‑Waste grant awards for the 2015–17 funding cycle.
Staff said the RFP drew 16 proposals and recommended funding roughly $800,000–$1.5 million in diversion grants using criteria focused on tons diverted, cost per ton and the highest‑and‑best use of material (with waste prevention prioritized). A scoring threshold was used: proposals scoring above 90 were funded directly, those scoring 70–90 were interviewed before selection.
The Commission approved 11 grantees; staff told the Commission that four were new awardees this cycle. Recommended projects include edible‑food recovery through the San Francisco Marin Food Bank, textile diversion and collection expansion with Goodwill and Recycle for Change, workforce development and event diversion by the San Francisco Conservation Corps, and reuse/educational programs from SCRAP and Building Resources.
Grantees gave brief remarks at the meeting describing anticipated impacts: SCRAP reported long‑running reuse operations and diversion of hundreds of thousands of pounds annually; the Food Bank said the grant will support collection and distribution of food destined for landfill. Commissioners discussed coordination among textile programs and options to expand funding in future cycles.
Commissioners moved, seconded and approved the funding recommendations by voice vote ('Aye'). Staff will finalize grant agreements and start disbursal per the schedule in the Department’s grant documentation.
