2013 Manhattan Community-Scale Composting Grant

Manhattan Solid Waste Advisory Board (SWAB)

Download the application here

Background:
The Manhattan Solid Waste Advisory Board (SWAB), a citizen advisory board appointed jointly by Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer and New York City Council members representing districts in Manhattan, will provide funding assistance for community, small-­‐scale organic waste diversion initiatives across the city in 2013.

The SWAB membership consists of individuals from community boards, recycling and carting industries, environmental organizations, property owners, tenant organizations and members of the general public. The SWAB advises the Manhattan Borough President, City Council and City administration regarding the development, promotion and operation of the city’s recycling program. Recommendations for the city’s recycling program include methods to encourage greater participation, educate the public and increase waste diversion rates. The Manhattan SWAB believes that organic waste diversion is central to increasing the city's residential recycling diversion rate. The NYC Department of Sanitation's (DSNY) Bureau of Waste Prevention, Reuse and Recycling (BWPRR) has supported the NYC Compost Project since 1993, providing outreach and education for NYC residents, nonprofit organizations, and businesses. In 2012, BWPRR expanded the NYC Compost Project and launched the Local Organics Recovery Program to provide NYC residents with a range of food scrap drop-­‐off opportunities and insuring that collected materials are composted locally. In addition, DSNY and the Department of Education are currently piloting a food waste collection program in 40 Manhattan and Brooklyn public schools and in 20 non-­‐profit institutions. The Manhattan SWAB would like to build on the Bureau's efforts to help foster community based compost programs in all five boroughs by providing small grants to qualifying organizations.

Since the recycling of organic materials is a natural process, that if properly managed will provide compost, a natural soil amendment, we believe on-­‐site composting systems can deliver many environmental benefits. Compost increases the nutrient content and moisture retention of soil and can also eliminate the need for chemical fertilizers. Diverting compost from landfills prevents the production of methane gas, a potent greenhouse gas, and the formulation of leachate from landfills. Additionally, composting can offer economic benefits.

Applications:
Send completed proposal no later than March 22, 2013.

Email:
sbernards@citizensnyc.org

Mail:
Citizens Committee for New York City
Attn: Sabine Bernards
77 Water Street, Suite 202
New York, NY 10005

For more details, please refer to the pages below. If you have any questions, please contact Sabine Bernards at 212.822.9578 or sbernards@citizensnyc.org. All selections will be made solely by the members of the Manhattan Solid Waste Advisory Board (SWAB) and Citizens Committee, and awards will be announced by April 22, 2013.

Goals:

• Provide funding assistance for community, small-­‐scale organic waste diversion initiative in all five boroughs
• Encourage initiatives that utilize environmentally preferable alternatives to long-distance waste export while also protecting our water bodies from excessive nutrient loading
• Promote initiatives that generate soil amendments for gardens, parks, street trees, landscaping and/or are marketed as a product Available Funds Small grants, ranging from $100 to $750 will be available to awardees. Eligibility

Requirements:

• Completed proposal submitted by March 22, 2013
• Community association, community garden, friends of park group, housing development group, nonprofit, school, college/university, hospital, or private business
• Site(s) for initiative must be located entirely in the five boroughs of New York City
• Previous compost grantees may apply to expand or continue their past work
• Group must have permission to start or expand this project in the form of a letter of support or contract Limitations Funds should be used for building/purchasing equipment and tools for a compost system as well as signage or other resources for community outreach. Funds cannot be used for planning or personnel expenses. Awardees must assume all liability for their projects and execute an agreement governing the project.

Proposal Requirements – please limit to 2 pages (excluding the funding application, drawings/schematics, letter of support and permission document)

1. Funding Application (included on the next page)
2. Project goals/description and drawings/schematics (if applicable)
3. Group description, including: number of volunteers/employees, how long in existence, composting experience or past composting projects, and level of expertise or willingness for training
4. Work plan, including implementation timeline, estimates of organics diverted and relating where possible experience with composting, current or past compost initiatives and how the project will take in organic waste (e.g. membership, public drop-off, etc).
5. Description of education plan for the target audience
6. Itemized list of expenditures including all materials, construction costs, etc.
7. Method to evaluate success of initiative (how to measure outcomes)
8. Plan for obtaining ongoing financial support and/or how group is going to manage the project
9. List of all partners (launch and operation)
10. Letter of Support for organization
11. Document indicating permission to implement project

Selection Criteria:

• Completeness of proposal requirements
• Ability to recreate model in other neighborhoods
• Ability to educate target audience about the value of composting
• Total estimated diversion rate
• Ability to quantitatively track outcomes of the initiative
• Ability to financially sustain the initiative/present a cost effective model
• Ability to realize project, i.e., site permissions, track record of group