Interested Arizona Communities are encouraged to apply by September 9, 2025.
PHOENIX (July 15, 2025) – After a successful relaunch in 2023, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) is pleased to announce that its Recycling Grant Program is returning for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY2026). With $1 million in funding available, ADEQ encourages Arizona businesses, nonprofits, schools, and local governments to apply for grants that support recycling efforts, reduce landfill waste, and help build a circular economy in our state.
“The momentum we’ve seen from the return of this program has been incredible,” said ADEQ Recycling Program Coordinator, J.B. Shaw. “These grants empower communities to develop innovative solutions, grow jobs, and keep valuable resources circulating right here in Arizona.”
In the previous grant cycle, ADEQ awarded nearly $1 million to 12 organizations, resulting in impressive outcomes:
- 20 new jobs created
- Nearly 5,000 tons of material diverted from landfills
- Tens of thousands of reusable items washed, sorted, or redistributed
- Thousands of Arizona students reached through education and engagement
One of the 12 ADEQ Recycling Grant recipients is Arizona-based nonprofit, Let’s Go Compost. Founded by Lauren Click, Let’s Go Compost began as a small-scale initiative to introduce students to the basics of composting. With the support of a $45,000 ADEQ Recycling Grant, the program has grown dramatically, expanding to 79 additional schools and engaging thousands of students across the state.
“Thanks to ADEQ’s grant, we were able to take Let’s Go Compost from a small pilot to a statewide program,” said Lauren Click, founder of Let’s Go Compost. “Together, we’ve brought hands-on composting education and infrastructure to schools across Arizona. This investment helps strengthen our state’s circular economy, empowers the next generation of environmental leaders, and builds long-term resilience through local, school-based solutions. By bringing STEM-based composting programs into classrooms, students see science in action and gain the skills to help build a stronger, more sustainable future for everyone.”
The grant funding enabled Let’s Go Compost to provide schools with composting infrastructure, including garden towers, educational materials, and hundreds of composting worms. Today, students at participating schools collect food scraps from their cafeterias and learn how to transform organic waste into nutrient-rich compost used in their campus gardens. This hands-on approach has already diverted 3.79 tons of food waste from landfills and is helping foster a culture of sustainability among young Arizonans.
Watch our video to hear personal stories from all 12 grantees >
Organizations can apply for the FY2026 funding in one of the following areas:
- Waste Reduction Assistance (WRA) – Supports programs such as curbside recycling, household hazardous waste collection, and other projects that significantly reduce solid waste.
- Waste Reduction Initiative Through Education (WRITE) – Funds educational outreach and behavior-change campaigns that promote proper recycling and waste disposal.
- Recycling Research & Development (RR&D) – Supports the development of new products, tools, or methods that reduce landfill use by turning waste into usable materials.
To help guide applicants through the process, ADEQ is offering both virtual and in-person workshops. These sessions will walk participants through the application steps, share tips for submitting a strong proposal, and provide an opportunity to ask ADEQ staff questions directly.
Grant application materials and workshop information can be found at azdeq.gov/recyclinggrants. Completed applications are due by Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025.
Background:
After a 10-year hiatus, the grant program’s relaunch received an overwhelming response, with 61 applications requesting nearly $9 million in funding. While only a portion of the requests could be awarded, the selected grantees demonstrate some of Arizona’s most creative and effective recycling solutions. This program empowers small communities to launch or expand local recycling efforts and supports larger municipalities in enhancing existing infrastructure to reduce landfill waste. ADEQ encourages cities, towns, tribal governments, counties, nonprofits, educational institutions, and private businesses with innovative recycling or circular economy projects to apply | View Recycling Grantee Video >
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Contact
ADEQ Public Information Officer
602-714-0048 | Email >