Grants
The Solid Waste District offers grant programs to assist communities, schools and nonprofits with developing and promoting recycling programs.
The Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District offers competitive grant programs to assist communities, schools, and nonprofits with the development and promotion of recycling, composting, and waste reduction programs.
Annually, applications for the Solid Waste District grants are due in early February and grantees will receive notice of award in March. Final reports are due in early November.
Details for our grants, and grants available from other agencies, are listed below.
Grants from Other Agencies
| Ohio EPA Recycling and Litter Prevention Grants |
Supports communities, businesses, and academic institutions that initiate or expand recycling programs, encourage sustainable practices, stimulate economic growth, and support litter prevention efforts. The EPA offers five different grants. Grants are awarded annually. |
Annually, EPA grant applications open on the first Monday in October and close on the first Friday in December at 3:00 PM. See details.
Review the list of EPA-funded projects in 2024 and a grant history from 2013-2024. |
| The Recycling Partnership (TRP) |
Offers grants for communities to purchase curbside recycling carts, develop a drop-off recycling program, or advance recycling at multi-family properties. |
TRP accepts applications on an ongoing and continuous basis. See details. |
| Cuyahoga County Municipal Grant Program |
Provides grants to our municipal governments for projects that improve their community. |
See details. |
| Cuyahoga County Planning Commission | Offers grants for public infrastructure, green space, and trees. | |
| Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District Action Grant | Offers grants, scholarships, rebates, and/or vouchers to support conservation efforts in Cuyahoga County. | |
| Keep America Beautiful | Offers grants annually for litter prevention, beautification, and community improvements. | |
| PepsiCo. Recycle Rally | A free nationwide school recycling program for K-12 schools. It provides access to downloadable resources and valuable incentives. | |
| NOPEC Energized Community Grants | Provides funding for energy efficiency and infrastructure projects that help member communities reduce their energy consumption. | |
| Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District Green Infrastructure Grant Program | Open to member communities, governmental entities, non-profit organizations 501(c)(3), or businesses working in partnership with their communities in the combined sewer area, interested in implementing green infrastructure projects that remove stormwater from the combined sewer system. |
Need help with fillable PDFs? Check out wikiHow.
Grants from the Solid Waste District
Waste Reduction, Recycling Container, and Composting Equipment Grant
[for nonprofit organizations and schools in Cuyahoga County]
The Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District created the Waste Reduction, Recycling Container, and Composting Equipment Grant to help schools, nonprofit organizations, and institutions reduce waste by establishing or expanding recycling or composting programs within their facilities.
Eligible applicants may apply for grants of $25,000 or under to purchase recycling or composting containers, equipment, supplies, and associated signage. Grants will be awarded competitively and are subject to approval by the Solid Waste District Board of Directors. We encourage you to discuss your project with the listed grant contact before applying for the grant.
Grant Timeline
- October 1, 2025: District grants announced for 2026
- October 7, 9, 15, 2025: Virtual pre-grant training (not required but encouraged). Watch the recorded video.
- November 7, 2025: Due date for REQUIRED pre-proposal
- November 14, 2025: Applicants notified of pre-proposal approval
- January 30, 2026: Full grant proposal due by 4:00 PM
- Early March 2026: Grant award notifications emailed
- TBD – Individual mandatory post-award training for all grantees (virtual)
- March-October 2026: Project implementation period
- November 6, 2026: Grant Summary & Reimbursement Report due at 4:00 PM
Waste Reduction, Recycling Container, and Composting Equipment Pre-Grant Virtual Training
Attendance is not required but is highly encouraged and will help you craft a better proposal and allow you to ask questions.
Register for one of the pre-grant training sessions:
- October 7, 2025, 10:00 AM | Register here
- October 9, 2025, 2:00 PM | Register here
- October 15, 2025, 11:00 AM | Register here
- Watch the recorded video.
Forms: Application and Final Report
- 2026 REQUIRED pre-proposal (due November 7, 2025)
- 2026 instructions and application (due January 30, 2026 at 4:00 PM)
- 2026 final report
Grant Contacts
Nonprofits and schools interested in grant funds for recycling and/or composting equipment, please contact:
- Nonprofits/Universities: Doreen Schreiber, (216) 443-3732 or send an email
- Schools: Carin Miller, (216) 443-3731 or send an email
Previous Grant Projects
Looking for creative inspiration? Check out some of the items purchased or produced with grant funds.
- 2026 Approved Projects: Equipment Grant
- 2025 Approved Projects: Equipment Grant
- 2024 Approved Projects: Equipment Grant
- 2023 Approved Projects: Equipment Grant
Grant Tips
For organizational recycling information and tips on how to implement grants, see recycling at school and how to start a business recycling program.
Need to purchase recycling containers or find labels and signage options? See our list of resources for equipment & labels.
Community Recycling Awareness Grant
[for municipalities, villages, and townships in Cuyahoga County]
Purpose: This grant for municipalities is primarily an education and awareness grant. The grant funds communities to inform or remind residents about waste reduction, recycling right, composting, and proper disposal.
The Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District created the Community Recycling Awareness Grant (CRAG) to help the 59 communities in Cuyahoga County educate residents about recycling and waste reduction. Cities, villages, and townships in Cuyahoga County may apply for up to $6,000 in funding. Funds for special awareness projects may also be requested.
This grant helps communities educate residents about recycling, typically through printed materials such as brochures, refrigerator magnets, newsletters, fliers, or calendars. To make it easy to produce these materials and to keep recycling messages consistent across the county, the District has graphics, customizable templates, and design tools for communities to use. See the toolkit.
Funding is also available to help communities conduct special recycling collection events; shred events; purchase permanent signage for recycling programs and events; purchase public space recycling containers; purchase drop-off recycling containers; and purchase public space composting containers.
This grant does not cover:
- the cost of items like reusable bags, pens, pencils, seed packets, coloring books, balloons, t-shirts, yard waste bags, or similar giveaways.
- the purchase of trash receptacles and/or shipping costs for containers.
For more information about this grant program, send an email.
Need to purchase recycling containers or find labels and signage options? See our list of resources for equipment & labels.
CRAG Timeline
- Early October 2025: Announcement of grant posting.
- January 30, 2026: Application deadline. A hard copy of the application is due at the Solid Waste District by 4:00 PM.
- Early March 2026: Announcement of CRAG awards and forms will be sent by e-mail to the grant contact(s) and mayor.
- Mid-Late March: Signed acceptance/CRAG award acknowledgment form due to the District.
- Late March-October: Implement your CRAG grant project. As soon as the project is complete, request reimbursement by submitting a hard copy of the final report and supporting documentation.
- September 30, 2026: Final date to submit draft education pieces for approval.
- November 6, 2026: Deadline to submit a hard copy of the Grant Summary and Reimbursement Report packet by 4:00 PM.
Forms: Application and Final Report
- 2026 instructions and application
- 2026 final report
Previous Grant Projects
Looking for creative inspiration? Check out some of the items purchased or produced with grant funds.
Special Projects Grant
[for communities, nonprofit businesses, and institutions in Cuyahoga County]
Purpose: This grant supports communities, nonprofit businesses, and institutions that reduce waste by initiating or expanding recycling, composting, and illegal dumping programs through purchasing equipment, materials, and services.
The Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District created a Special Projects Grant to support communities, nonprofit businesses, and institutions that reduce waste by initiating or expanding recycling programs, composting programs, illegal dumping programs, encourage sustainable practices, and increase awareness of and participation in proper materials management.
Eligible applicants may apply for grants of $25,000 or under to purchase equipment, materials, and services that will support sustainable materials management and reduce the environmental impact of waste. Grants will be awarded competitively and are subject to final approval by the District's Board of Directors.
For more information about this grant program, send an email.
Grant Timeline
- Early October 2025: Announcement of grant posting.
- January 30, 2026: Application deadline. A hard copy of the application is due to the Solid Waste District by 4:00 PM.
- Early March 2026: Announcement of SPG awards and forms will be sent by email to the grant contact(s) and mayor.
- Mid-Late March: Signed acceptance/SPG award acknowledgement form due to the District.
- Late March-October: Implement your SPG grant project. As soon as the project is complete, request reimbursement by submitting a hard copy of the final report and supporting documentation.
- September 30, 2026: Final date to submit draft education pieces for approval.
- November 6, 2026: Deadline to submit a hard copy of the Grant Summary and Reimbursement Report packet by 4:00 PM.
Forms: Application and Final Report
- 2026 instructions and application
- 2026 final report
Previous Grant Projects
Looking for creative inspiration? Check out some of the items purchased or produced with grant funds in the Special Project Grants Summary.
Presentations for Civic Groups, Businesses, and Schools
The Solid Waste District offers waste reduction, composting, and recycling presentations tailored to the interests and needs of civic organizations, businesses, schools, or groups. As part of your grant application, consider requesting a speaker. We can also host a booth or a table at your event. See details.