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DEP Now Accepting Applications For Food Waste Reduction Grants To Help Fight Hunger

On October 4, Department of Environmental Protection Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley joined Joe Arthur, CEO of the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, to announce DEP is now accepting Food Recovery Infrastructure Grants to help nonprofit organizations fight hunger by reducing food waste.

The deadline for applications is February 28.

Grants up to $50,000 are available to non-profit organizations who partner with food retailers/wholesalers to recover safe and wholesome foods and then make that food available to the public are eligible for grants up to $50,000 through the Food Recovery Infrastructure Grant program.

“Preserving fresh food and preventing it from going landfills is vital to fighting hunger in Pennsylvania,” said DEP Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley, speaking at the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank. “The Food Recovery Infrastructure Grant helps put food where it belongs – in people, not in landfills.”

The Food Recovery Infrastructure Grants can be awarded to reimburse the cost of equipment like refrigerators, freezers, refrigerated and non-refrigerated vehicles, stoves, and microwaves to store, transport, or prepare the recovered safe, wholesome foods to ensure that the food can be redistributed to the public.

Grants up to $50,000 are available per applicant. Special consideration will be given to applicants with projects that serve Environmental Justice areas.

“In addition to helping feed Pennsylvanians in need, keeping food waste out of landfills also helps fight climate change. Organic waste like food breaks down into methane, a potent greenhouse gas – so every potato, every stalk of broccoli, every apple, every tomato that doesn’t go to a landfill is helping to fight climate change in Pennsylvania,” said Shirley.

Acting Secretary Shirley said this may be the last year offering these grants due to funding limitations.

Click Here for video from the announcement.

How To Apply

Interested applicants must have a pre-application meeting with their local DEP Regional Recycling Coordinator prior to submitting their applications.

Grant applications must be submitted through the Electronic Single Application website.

Visit DEP’s Food Recovery Infrastructure Grants webpage to learn more.

For more information on environmental programs in Pennsylvania, visit DEP’s website, Report Emergencies, Submit Environmental Complaints; Click Here to sign up for DEP’s newsletter; sign up for DEP’s eNotice; visit DEP’s Blog, Like DEP on Facebook, Follow DEP on Twitter and visit DEP’s YouTube Channel.

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