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MassDEP details expanded food-waste and drop-off equipment grants, including bulky rigid plastics
Summary
MassDEP described food‑waste funding paths (curbside cart grants and drop‑off grants), reimbursement rules, and new and returning equipment categories such as bulky rigid plastics, cardboard compactors, glass roll‑offs and paint sheds.
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection presenters outlined multiple Spring 2026 grant opportunities aimed at expanding municipal food‑waste collection and upgrading drop‑off infrastructure.
Becky Ferguson described two food‑waste grant pathways: a Food Waste Cart grant for curbside programs (municipal or subsidized private subscription programs) that requires a minimum municipal contribution of $35 per participating household (of which the SMRP grant may provide $25 and RDP funds may be used toward the remainder). The cart grant reimburses based on carts actually distributed, can fund up to 10,000 households or $250,000 per award, and requires an implementation plan (timeline, budget, municipal contribution and outreach) before award finalization.
The Drop‑off Equipment category is a reimbursable grant with a maximum reimbursement of $3,000 per drop‑off site and up to four sites (maximum $12,000 total). Eligible expenses include carts, containers, signage, educational materials and incentives (kitchen bins, liner bags). Micaela Guglielmi reviewed additional equipment categories that returned or expanded in 2026: a bulky rigid plastics category (reimbursement up to $8,000 for a 20–30 cubic yard open‑top roll‑off), cardboard compactors targeted to OCC (up to $10,000), source‑separated glass roll‑offs (up to $8,000 with heavy‑duty containers and optional gable tops), paint sheds for oil‑based paint (up to $5,000), reuse swap‑shop structures (up to $8,000) and universal waste sheds (up to $5,000). She noted that communities partnered with municipal waste combustors (Wheelabrator or Covanta) should check combustor separation plans because combustor partners may already provide universal waste sheds free of charge.
Guglielmi stressed grant mechanics: most equipment grants are reimbursement only, invoices are due at the end of the fiscal year (June 30, 2027 for this cycle), and grantees must submit vendor invoices, proof of purchase, and photos showing signage that credits MassDEP funding. She said MassDEP set aside about $400,000 for drop‑off equipment in 2025 and that the bulky rigid plastics category is prioritized in the 2026 cycle.
