The Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) offers the Community Composting for Green Spaces Grant Program pursuant to Public Resources Code section 42999. The purpose of this competitive grant program is to increase the number of community groups operating small-scale composting programs in green spaces within disadvantaged and low-income communities, and to increase the capacity of those composting programs. Green spaces include, but are not limited to, community gardens, urban farms, and other public spaces where small-scale composting is appropriate.
The Community Composting for Green Spaces Grant Program seeks to:
- Understand barriers to starting and managing locally based composting programs.
- Provide resources for new and existing programs.
- Identify success factors.
- Provide models for effective and sustainable community composting operations.
Compost is a stable, soil-like end product resulting from the controlled breakdown of organic material like kitchen scraps, yard trimmings, and grass clippings. When compost is added to soil, the soil is healthier and can hold more water. Plants grown in compost-amended soil are bigger and stronger, and they can produce more food.
The Community Composting for Green Spaces Grant Program will:
- Lower greenhouse gas emissions by increasing the number and efficiency of community composting sites throughout the state.
- Promote community-based activities to increase organic material diversion in disadvantaged and low-income communities.
- Reduce food and organic waste disposed in landfills.
- Provide compost to enhance community gardens, grow fresh produce, and support neighborhood climate adaptation projects.
The program will also fund employment and training opportunities for priority populations.
This program is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy and improving public health and the environment— particularly in disadvantaged communities. The Cap-and-Trade program also creates a financial incentive for industries to invest in clean technologies and develop innovative ways to reduce pollution. At least 35 percent of these investments are made in disadvantaged and low-income communities. For more information, visit California Climate Investments.
Listserv
Join the Community Composting for Green Spaces Grant Listserv to be notified by email about program updates and funding availability.
Cycle-Specific Information
Awarded Cycles
Note: “CCG” followed by a number is the cycle code for the Community Composting for Green Spaces Grant Program.
FY 2021-22 (Cycle 2): Application Information | CCG2 Awards
FY 2019-20 (Cycle 1): Application Information | CCG1 Awards
Questions?
If you have questions that are program-specific, please contact CCGP@calrecycle.ca.gov.
For more information contact: Climate Change, GHGreductions@calrecycle.ca.gov