On April 15, 2025, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) will begin accepting applications for its 2025 Reduce, Reuse, Repair Micro-Grants. The application will be available on MassDEP鈥檚 website and must be submitted听by 5:00 p.m. ET on May 15.
This grant program supports innovative waste prevention听solutions as alternatives to the disposal or new purchase of products across Massachusetts. Eligible projects will help advance the state鈥檚 goal of stopping waste at the source听and reducing statewide waste disposal by 30 percent by 2030.
The Reduce, Reuse, Repair Micro-Grants range from $3,000 to $10,000 and reimburse听costs associated with developing and implementing proposed projects. To qualify, projects must focus on reducing waste in Massachusetts through donation, sharing, rescue, reuse and/or repair and take a year or less to complete. Both private and public sector entities, including businesses, nonprofits, schools and local governments, are eligible to apply. MassDEP is committed to advancing equity, diversity, and environmental justice through its grant programs. MassDEP will prioritize projects that directly benefit environmental justice populations.
Examples of Eligible Projects
- Switch from single-use to reusable food service ware听at schools, restaurants, or institutional cafeterias (e.g., install dishwashers, onboard with a dishwashing service, adopt reusable dishware and/or takeout containers).
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Promote responsible dismantling听of buildings 鈥� which allows materials to be recycled or reused 鈥� by hosting trainings, piloting a deconstruction project and/or听recovering and reselling used building materials.
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Start or expand programs that repair听used furniture, appliances, electronics, and other durable goods for resale or distribution.
Visit the Reduce, Reuse, Repair Micro-Grant Guidelines听page for a complete overview of the grant, including additional project ideas, eligible uses of funds, timeline information, evaluation criteria, and definitions of key terms.
MassDEP will be hosting a virtual information session on April 1, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (). After the application opens on April 15, questions must be submitted in writing to Leah Kelleher at [email protected]. All questions are due by April 29, 5:00 p.m. ET. Answers will be posted to the Micro-Grant webpage on May 2.
Past Reduce, Reuse, Repair Micro-Grant Recipients and Projects
- Brandeis University听expanded its reusable takeout container program to several on-campus dining locations 鈥� saving over 7,000 pounds of waste.
- The Clean Water Fund鈥檚 ReThink Disposable听program partnered with Truro Community Kitchen on Cape Cod to deliver free home-cooked meals to those in need in reusable containers. The switch to reusables saves an estimated 1.2 tons of waste each year.
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Buzzards Bay Area Habitat for Humanity听launched a program that collects and redistributes used metal ramps to low-income homeowners with limited mobility. The program helps people age-in-place while keeping these bulky items out of the trash.