Oregon launches $26.7 million food waste recovery grant program

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is launching a $26.7 million grant program to expand food waste processing and community-scale composting across the state. This initiative is part of Oregon’s federal Climate Equity and Resilience Through Action (CERTA) program, supported by a $197 million Climate Pollution Reduction Grant from the U.S. EPA.

The funding is divided into two categories: $25 million for large-scale food waste processing projects and $1.7 million for small-scale composting projects. Large-scale awards of up to $2 million are expected for approximately 18 to 20 projects, targeting permitted composting and anaerobic digestion facilities. Eligible expenses include equipment such as grinders, shredders, and depackagers, as well as infrastructure upgrades.

The small-scale portion, with awards ranging from $50,000 to $249,999, is intended for nonprofits, local and Tribal governments, businesses, and educational institutions. These funds can support community composting systems, food scrap drop-off sites, and workforce development projects.