Waste Not Washington School Awards
The Waste Not Washington School Awards (School Awards) promote sustainability by rewarding schools that build and expand waste reduction, reuse, recycling, and composting programs and lessons. As of the 2025-2026 award cycle, each award can receive up to $10,000 in funding.
We encourage schools to be environmental stewards for their students and communities. Across the state, schools are finding ways to carry out their educational missions in a less wasteful manner. These awards celebrate Washington schools for their environmental efforts and help fund their waste reduction projects.
Funding cycle – Unavailable 2025 – 2027
- Amount of funding available: $100,000 per award cycle
- Grant award limit: Up to $10,000 per project
- No matching funds required.
Deadlines and Award Limits
The School Awards are annual.
Applications are accepted from August 1 until 5 p.m. on October 31 each year. All applications must be received by 5 p.m. on Oct 31 to be considered for that year’s award cycle.
For more information on how to apply, see the Application information section on this webpage.
To promote equitable access to funding and ensure representation from schools across Washington State, a limit has been placed on the number of awards that may be granted per school and school district:
Application information
Applications are open annually from August 1 until 5 p.m. on October 31.
Funding is unavailable for 2025-2027 funding cycles and applications will not be accepted during this time. For applicants wanting to review downloadable applications, please contact Heather Church at schoolawards@ecy.wa.gov. We encourage interested applicants to reach out and begin planning their future applications even while funding is unavailable.
Online applications
Online applications will become available during the open application cycle once funding is restored.
Mail-In applications
To review downloadable applications, please contact Heather Church at schoolawards@ecy.wa.gov. Documents can be made available in .pdf or .docx file formats.
Applicants may be eligible to receive awards if they meet the following criteria:
- Applicant must be a teacher or staff member of a K-12 public, private, tribal school, or school district applying on behalf of a school or classroom
- Projects must show a sustainable focus relevant to the award category they apply for. You can find more information on award category descriptions, eligibility, funding allocations, and examples of projects in the Award Categories section of the School Awards Guidelines document.
Eligible projects for these awards include those focused on waste reduction, organics management, recycling, and waste assessments. Some examples include, but are not limited to:
- Switching to reusable trays, plates, silverware, or cups
- Implementing food share tables and food waste reduction campaigns
- Replacing single-use milk cartons with bulk beverage dispensers and reusable cups
- Implementing a recycling collection program for appropriate materials
- Generating lessons and curriculum on waste reduction education
For more examples of eligible projects per award category, read the Award Categories section of the School Awards Guidelines document. The guidelines document also has an extensive list of eligible and ineligible costs.
Award guidelines and template documents
- School Award Guidelines - These guidelines include information on:
- Timelines and deadlines
- Eligible and ineligible costs
- What to know when applying for an award
- Award category details, including project examples
- Scoring criteria and score cards
- Example budget, planning document, and letter of support
- Template Budget
- Template Planning Document
Contact information
Heather Church
Waste reduction and recycling specialist
schoolawards@ecy.wa.gov
509-688-5358