The MPCA had approximately $4.5 million available to support organics management projects across the state.
This grant program aims to reduce the amount of organic material being disposed of through landfilling or incineration by funding projects that create, expand, or improve the efficiency of organics management including collection; processing through composting, anaerobic digestion, or food to animals; and education and outreach.
Closed: The application deadline was June 14, 2024.
Questions and answers
Submit questions about this grant to grants.pca@state.mn.us with the subject line “Statewide Organics Management Grants” no later than 4 p.m. on June 5, 2024.
MPCA employees cannot answer questions about this grant opportunity, and direct contact regarding this RFP with any MPCA personnel may result in disqualification.
Informational meeting
The MPCA held a virtual meeting to discuss this grant opportunity, the SWIFT process, and answer questions from participants (30 min.).
Eligibility
Eligible applicants include entities that are serving Minnesota communities or have operations in Minnesota, such as not-for-profit organizations, businesses, institutions, political subdivisions of the state (including counties, cities, town, etc.), state agencies, and tribal governments. Multi-organizational collaboration is allowed.
Eligible projects. Funds may be used for programs, staffing, or equipment/supplies for organics management activities, such as organics collection, processing, and education. This grant focuses on the “organics recycling” section of the waste hierarchy.
Projects focusing on waste reduction, reuse, non-organics recycling, waste-to-energy, or landfilling are not eligible. For full eligibility details, please consult the RFP.
Available funds
Total available funds: $4.5 million. Applicants must match at least 20% of the grant request.
Large projects ($4 million):
- Maximum award: $1.5 million
- Minimum award: $200,000
Smaller projects ($500,000):
- Maximum award: $199,999
- Minimum award: $50,000 (Applicants requesting less than the minimum amount will be deemed ineligible)
How to apply
The request for proposal (RFP) and application materials can only be viewed through the online SWIFT portal. The RFP is termed an “Event” within the SWIFT system.
- Go to the online SWIFT portal.
- Click on "Bidding opportunities".
- Find the event by name (MPCA-Statewide Organics Management Grant) or ID (2000015627).
- Click "View Bid Package" to see the RFP and forms. (There’s no need to log in to see the documents.)
Grant applications are only accepted through the SWIFT portal.
- Register as a bidder in the SWIFT Supplier Portal, (Bidding = "applying")
- Choose "Register for an Account" and then "Register as a Bidder".
If you are already registered in the SWIFT system as a supplier (previously known as a vendor), use your supplier ID. Visit the SWIFT Supplier Portal under “Informational Tips” and “Supplier Portal Help” for more information. For questions about applying through SWIFT, please contact the Vendor Assistance Help Desk at 651-201-8100, option 1.
More information
Organics such as food waste and compostable products make up almost one third of the municipal waste stream in Minnesota. When food is wasted, so are the resources that go into producing it. Food waste is a significant contributor to climate change, responsible for at least 2.6 percent of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. That’s equivalent to the annual emissions from more than 37 million cars, or 1 in 7 cars on the road. Composting and anaerobic digestion reduce greenhouse gas emissions from food waste compared to landfilling or incineration, and produce beneficial products such as compost, digestate, and biogas.