Are you ready to turn your school’s sustainability vision into reality? Now is the perfect time to apply!
What are School Waste Diversion Grants?
ecomaine’s School Waste Diversion Grants support preschool through 12th grade schools within ecomaine’s member communities. These grants, part of a $30,000 pool, offer up to $5,000 per school to fund projects that advance waste reduction through the hierarchy of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Compost/Digestion, with a strong emphasis on waste diversion strategies. If your school is planning to install recycling bins, launch a composting program, or create a waste-awareness curriculum that can be replicated elsewhere, this grant could be just what you need.
Key Dates & Project Guidelines
- Now through October 15th: Grant applications are open.
- Applications should clearly demonstrate commitment to the waste hierarchy and landfill diversion methods.
- Selection is made by ecomaine’s Outreach and Recycling Committee, based on:
- Quality of project proposal and school commitment
- Ease of replication
- Demonstrated potential for waste reduction, reuse, recycling, or composting
- Likelihood of success and sustainability
- Overall merit and impact potential
How to Apply
- Who’s eligible: Any public or private school serving students from preschool through 12th grade within an ecomaine member community
- Check out rules and guidelines here.
- Fill out this form to be sent an application
- Reach out directly with questions:
- Phone: 207-773-1738
- Email: info@ecomaine.org
Examples of Past Projects
- Appletree School – Established raised beds and added soil to put compost into practice
- Fiddlehead Center for the Arts – Acquired composting materials for hands-on learning
- King Middle School – Installed a countertop dishwasher, sporks, flatware organizer, and bus tubs to cut down on single-use plastic utensils
- Lyseth Elementary – Secured composting materials for sustainability education
- The Ecology Learning Center – Developed classroom waste sorting and collection infrastructure
- Westbrook Middle School – Added classroom recycling bins and a water bottle refill station to promote reuse
