ecomaine

Maine's Leader in Sustainable Waste Management

eco-Impact Grants

Applications for the 2026–2027 academic year are now closed. Thank you to everyone who submitted a proposal. We’re excited to learn about the projects you have planned for your schools and communities.

Our annual eco-Impact Grants provide project-specific funds to schools and non-profit educational organizations to support sustainable waste management efforts. Qualified projects should be new or expanding, and involve students and educators in waste reduction, reuse, recycling, composting, or other waste diversion strategies.

What Happens Next

If you submitted an application by the October 20th deadline, here’s what to expect:

  • Award notifications: All applicants who provided valid contact information will be notified of funding decisions no later than December 1, 2026. Our team may reach out with questions about your submission during the review. These questions don’t mean that funds have been awarded.
  • Grant agreements: Grant recipients must respond to their funding notification and return a signed grant agreement by December 10, 2026, to be eligible for funds.
  • Funding: 80% of the awarded funds will be disbursed once the signed grant agreement is received. The remaining 20% will be disbursed after the closing report is complete.
  • Mid-year review: ecomaine staff will conduct an in-person site visit and progress review in early spring 2027 (February/March).
  • Closing report: Recipients will submit a written closing report on project status and plans for completion no later than May 3, 2027.

Questions about your submission? Contact us at info@ecomaine.org.

About the Program

Formerly known as the School Waste Diversion Grants, eco-Impact Grants have helped past recipients launch school-wide composting programs, replace single-use cafeteria ware with reusable alternatives, and expand recycling access paired with student-led education campaigns. Since the program’s launch, these grants have given students across the state a direct hand in solving real problems in their own schools and communities, and in the process, helped build habits of stewardship that extend well beyond the classroom.

Eligibility

eco-Impact Grants are open to schools and non-profit educational organizations serving students who live in an ecomaine community. Reference our list of communities to confirm your eligibility.

Looking Ahead to Next Year

Planning to apply for the 2027–2028 academic year? Review this year’s guidelines as you start thinking about your project. This cycle, grants of up to $7,500 per project were awarded from a $25,000 funding pool. Applicants were asked to submit a detailed project budget, secure approval from their school or organizational leadership, and commit to a mid-year site visit and a closing report. Previous recipients are welcome to apply again with a new project or one that substantially expands on their earlier work. The guidelines also include examples of eligible and ineligible projects and the full list of application questions, so you can start shaping your ideas early. Guidelines for next year’s cycle may change and will be posted when applications reopen.

Review the 2026-2027 Guidelines

Congratulations to our 2025-2026 Grantees!

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Dayton is launching a new composting program to reduce food waste, and adding new recycling bins across the school to further sustainability efforts. 

Falmouth Middle School is bringing their community together to plan a future upcycling event. They’re also developing a campaign to reduce litter across outdoor spaces, and expanding recycling and composting systems throughout the school. 

Freeport High School is switching from disposable to reusable foodware, and developing a cafeteria sorting station to help reduce waste and model sustainable practices for the school community. 

Greely Middle School is planning to reduce paper towel use by installing two hand driers in highly trafficked bathrooms. A student led “Green Team” will be performing waste audits before and after installation as part of a pilot project and educational opportunity. 

Loranger Memorial School is switching to compostable serveware to increase waste diversion efforts. The school has already diverted over 6 tons of food waste since establishing their composting program in fall 2024.

Lyseth Elementary School is installing three new rain barrels to reduce water use and support sustainable gardening projects across the school.

North Haven School is building a new student-led sustainability program to introduce composting, upcycling, and hard-to-recycle material collections.

The team at Roots Academy is creating an outdoor message board, expanding their reusable towel and recycling systems, switching to reusable utensils, and revamping their rain barrel setup.

STRIVE is looking forward to reducing food waste through a Garbage to Garden subscription, and plans to use compost to build soil for raised garden beds in the spring.

 

Past Grant Projects

Composting and Recycled Art at STRIVE TOPS
STRIVE - South Portland
STRIVE TOPS students explored composting, gardening, and creating art from recycled materials. They turned recycled materials into an art exhibition, and learned about gardening and marketing while building raised beds - now planting and harvesting outside.
Recycling Green Team at North Haven Community School
North Haven Community School - North Haven
North Haven Community School used their grant to expand their garden and composting program, add visible recycling bins throughout the building, and support student leadership by having high schoolers mentor younger students in the school-wide green team.
Compostable Cafeteria at Loranger Memorial School
Loranger Middle School - Old Orchard Beach
Loranger Memorial School used grant funding to shift their cafeteria to compostable utensils and serveware, building on a composting program that has diverted more than six tons of food waste since fall 2024. They've also woven composting into their curriculum through related classroom projects and activities.
Waste Stations at Cape Elizabeth Middle School
Cape Elizabeth Middle School - Cape Elizabeth
Cape Elizabeth Middle School constructed detailed waste stations to divert food waste and support composting in their cafeteria. They plan to use the remaining funds to replicate the setup in the high school and elementary school, supporting their efforts with in-class education.
Students at Dayton Consolidated School were involved in the composting program, creating posters to highlight their efforts
Composting at Dayton Consolidated School
Dayton Consolidated School - Dayton
Dayton Consolidated School launched a composting program focused on properly disposing of leftover food waste, with strong buy-in from students and staff. They've partnered with a local farm to recycle the material, and students are taking the lead on the initiative.
Compostable Utensils at Ocean Avenue Elementary
Ocean Avenue Elementary - Portland
Ocean Avenue Elementary utilized their funds to replace plastic utensils with compostables in their cafeteria. To complement their efforts, they have also introduced education on the importance of reducing plastic in the waste stream, holding school-wide community meetings.
Children learning about composting in Vinalhaven, as a part of a program with Ecomaine
Vermicomposting at Vinalhaven School
Vinalhaven School - Vinalhaven
Students brought science out of the classroom and into the real world, with flourishing results. With their grant funding, Vinalhaven installed a garden for students in per-K though fifth grade. They enriched their garden by creating compost, studying worms, and applying the science of vermicomposting.
Composting & Recycling at Westbrook Middle School
Westbrook Middle School - Westbrook
Students facilitated on-site composting and recycling in their school cafeteria, with the Student Council initiating education and outreach efforts. The program diverted an average of 350lbs of food waste per week. Their school-wide paper recycling program diverted an additional 100lbs per week on average.