MassDEP Reduce, Reuse, Repair Micro-Grant

This program provides grants of up to $10,000 to eligible for-profit and non-profit organizations, regional authorities, municipalities, and schools/colleges for short-term reuse and repair projects.
The 2026 grant application will be posted on April 15, 2026.

Reduce, Reuse, Repair Micro-Grant Questions?

The Details

About this program

The Reduce, Reuse, Repair Micro-Grant provides grant awards from $3,000 to $10,000 (max) to eligible businesses, non-profits, regional authorities, and schools/colleges for short-term waste reduction projects (defined as lasting up to one year).

To qualify, projects must focus on reducing waste in Massachusetts by extending the life of products through donation, sharing, rescue, reuse and/or repair. Composting and recycling projects are not eligible for this grant.

MassDEP is hosting a virtual information session about this grant on April 1, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Register for the meeting online.

How to apply

A link to the 2026 application form will be posted on April 15.

Applications are due on May 15 by 5:00 p.m. ET.

See details below.

Next steps

  1. Determine Your Eligibility

    To be eligible for Reduce, Reuse, Repair Micro-Grant consideration, you must be applying on behalf of:

    • An organization or business (for-profit or non-profit) that is properly licensed to operate in Massachusetts.
    • A regional entity, such as a solid waste management district, solid waste/recycling cooperative or regional planning authority, that is recognized as a governmental body under Massachusetts General Laws.
    • An individual Massachusetts city or town, or one acting as the lead for a multi-community regional initiative.
    • Pre-K-12 schools, as well as colleges and universities, both public and private. 
       
  2. Review the Grant Guidelines

    Read the Grant Guidelines before applying. The Guidelines explain the goals of this grant program and provide a comprehensive summary of the criteria used to evaluate applications, eligible uses of funds, project ideas, and awardee expectations.

  3. Prepare the Information You Need to Submit

    You are encouraged to prepare the following in a separate document prior to applying:

    • A summary of the project you are proposing and its goals.
    • Your justification for the project (i.e., why it is needed).
    • How you will evaluate or measure the success of your project.
    • A statement of project sustainability and replicability.
    • Your work plan and timeline for the project.
    • An itemized project budget, including any matching funds.
  4. Submit Your Application

    MassDEP will post a link to the online application on this webpage four to six weeks before the deadline.

    Once the application opens, all grant questions must be submitted in writing to Leah Kelleher at leah.kelleher@mass.gov. Questions are due on April 29 at 5:00 p.m. Answers will be posted to this webpage on May 4.

  5. MassDEP Reviews Your Application

    Build six months from the application deadline into your project timeline to account for MassDEP’s evaluation, award, and contracting process. Award decisions will be based on the eligibility and evaluation criteria specified in the Grant Guidelines (Step 2 above).

  6. Sign a Grant Agreement with MassDEP

    Applicants whose projects are selected for funding will receive an award letter. Grantees will work with MassDEP to develop and sign a Standard Contract with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts that includes a Grant Scope of Work and specifies the terms and conditions of the award. Additional documents will be required to set up payment and the contract. These documents must be submitted within two months of receiving an award letter.

    Grant funds may not be expended until the Standard Contract has been fully executed. Any costs incurred before full contract execution will not be reimbursed.

  7. Project Reporting & Reimbursement

    • Applicants whose projects are selected for funding will work with MassDEP to develop a Grant Scope of Work. Project work must generally be completed as per the Grant Scope of Work.
    • Approved projects must be completed within one year of receiving a fully executed Standard Contract.
    • Awarded funds will be distributed as a reimbursement based on actual costs and an approved budget outlined in the Grant Scope of Work.
    • At the end of the grant project, grantees must submit a final report. The report describes the project and deliverables, challenges faced, lessons learned, and recommendations for next steps, as applicable. MassDEP will provide a template for the report and may publish information and images from it on its website or social media.
    • After the report is reviewed and approved by MassDEP, grantees may submit an invoice to request grant payment using a template provided by MassDEP.

More info

Since 2019, MassDEP has awarded over $500,000 in Reduce, Reuse, Repair Micro-Grants. Explore case studies, spotlights, and the list of funded projects below.

Active and Completed Micro-Grant Projects

Past Micro-Grantee Spotlights

ReThink Disposable Case Study: Truro Community Kitchen

Carey Company Inc. Case Study

Contact

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