Grants for Local Governments
Community Waste Reduction and Recycling Grant Program – OPEN
The Community Waste Reduction and Recycling Grant Program is a recurring annual funding opportunity for local governments to build lasting capacity to divert materials from the waste stream and / or increase public awareness of recycling. The grant cycle is timed to correspond with local government budget cycles. See Previous CWRAR Grant Projects for previously selected proposals. Proposals for the 2026 grant round are due by 5 p.m. on Friday, February 13, 2026. Grant winners are notified in April and funds become available on July 1st.
Download the request for proposals (RFP) for the 2026 grant round: PDF or Word.
For more information or assistance, please contact Alex Miller at 919 707-8190.
Multifamily Recycling Grant Program - OPEN
The Multifamily Recycling Grant Program offers funding to initiate or expand multifamily recycling programs within the state and is open to local governments, recycling businesses or non-profits, multifamily property owners or management companies, public housing authorities, and colleges and universities for off-campus housing. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Watch the Multifamily Recycling Webinar to learn more.
For more information or assistance please contact Elise Traywick at 919-707-8135.
Food Waste Reduction Grant – CLOSED
The 2026 Food Waste Reduction Grant round is now closed. This special grant program offers funding to help local governments, nonprofits, and businesses reduce the amount of wasted food being disposed in landfills. Proposals for the 2026 grant round were due by 5 p.m. on Friday, October 24, 2025. For more information, please contact Christine Wittmeier at 919-707-8121.
Learn more about food waste reduction.
Additional Grant Information
Successful grant applicants are required to provide the following forms, which will be included as part of the grant contract:
- No Overdue Taxes Certification
- Conflict of Interest Policy - Local governments are encouraged to use the state's Conflict of Interest Policy Template
As a condition set forth of each of the above grant programs, any North Carolina municipality, county, council of government and solid waste authority that receives a reimbursement grant shall submit a final report to the DEACS grant manager prior to the end of the grant contract. Each grant program requires specific information be included. Please download the final report form for the appropriate grant program:
- Community Waste Reduction and Recycling (CWRAR) Grant Final Report
- Food Waste Reduction Grant Final Report
Abandoned Manufactured Home (AMH) Grant Program – CLOSED
This grant program provided funding to assist counties with implementing abandoned manufactured home clean-up programs. Information is available on the AMH Grant Program website. For more information or assistance, please contact David Hance at 919-707-8122.
Glass Equipment and Infrastructure Grant Program – CLOSED
The Glass Equipment and Infrastructure Grant was a one-time grant program that provided funding for single stream material recovery facilities (MRFs) to purchase glass recycling equipment or for local governments to establish or expand community drop-off glass collection.
Local governments in western North Carolina are eligible to apply for grant funds to improve recycling infrastructure impacted by Hurricane Helene.
DEACS also makes grant funds available for the private sector (for profit) and nonprofit recycling organizations.
The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services provides financial assistance for the collection/recycling of used agricultural pesticide jugs and unused pesticides.