Waste Not Washington School Awards

The Waste Not Washington School Awards are undergoing updates for the 2025 – 2026 funding cycle. We want to hear directly from schools and their partners for feedback to improve this program. To participate in our School Partners Workgroup or to learn more about these updates contact Heather Church at schoolawards@ecy.wa.gov.

You can also take our short survey by April 30, 2025 to leave your feedback for consideration.

The Waste Not Washington School Awards promote sustainability and reward school efforts to reduce waste, recycle, and teach environmental curriculum. A budget of $100,000 per year is available; each award provides up to $5,000. A new organics management law passed in 2024 increases the max award for a single school to $10,000 starting on Jan. 1, 2026.

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.

Join our email list to stay informed about the Waste Not Washington School Awards program.

Funding cycle

Amount of funding available: $100,000
Award amount limit: Up to $5,000 per project (increasing to $10,000 starting Jan. 1, 2026)
No matching funds required

The Waste Not Washington School Awards help build and improve waste reduction, reuse, and recycling programs and curricula in Washington schools.

A crucial issue that children face is the uncertainty of the world they will inherit. Schools that teach and practice sustainable behavior are important role models to children and their communities. These schools provide students knowledge and skills to understand and respond to a rapidly changing world.

Bringing environmental issues into classrooms is challenging when working within basic education requirements. Waste reduction programs are an opportunity for students to learn about environmental impacts of materials and waste — including climate impacts.

As students learn to take ownership of the future and hone their abilities to make improvements, they in turn will model leadership behavior and find opportunities to educate their fellow students, families, and communities about the impacts of waste. Dedication and support from all members of the school and the greater community are key components of a successful program. Your school can be part of the effort to teach these important principles to tomorrow’s leaders.

Application information

Applications for 2024 funding awards are open from Aug. 1, 2024 until 5 p.m. on Oct. 31, 2024. How to apply:

Apply for:
Once finished, email your completed form and any supporting attachments (letters of support, detailed budget, pricing quotes, etc.) to schoolawards@ecy.wa.gov.
You will receive an email confirmation within one business day that we received your application. If you do not receive a confirmation email please reach out to heather.church@ecy.wa.gov.

If you have any questions, please contact us for technical assistance.

Join our email list to stay informed about the Waste Not Washington School Awards.

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 surrounding waste reduction, recycling, green purchasing, food waste reduction, and/or composting

Eligible projects for these awards include waste reduction, recycling, and composting efforts, such as:

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

Eligible costs

Durable materials to replace single-use items (lunch trays, silverware, cups for beverage dispensers, etc.)
Bulk food/ beverage dispensers (milk, juice, water)
Gloves and protective gear for program activities (waste audits, compost operations)
Equipment for composting
Printing, translation of educational materials
Computer software for distance learning (video conferencing software, video editing software)
On-site gardening supplies
Equipment for recycling

Eligible at our (Ecology's) discretion

Wages and stipends
Computer equipment or electronics — only if solely dedicated to waste reduction, composting, recycling, education, and outreach

Ineligible costs

Architectural designs
Hauling costs
Disposal fees
“Green” office supplies (recycled paper)
Non-toxic cleaning supplies
Feasibility studies or plans
Promotional materials, giveaways, or swag (water bottles, magnets, t-shirts)

Award guidelines and example programs

This award recognizes a school's ongoing efforts to support and expand programs for waste reduction, composting, and recycling.

It is intended to not only recognize a school for past efforts but to support the continuation and future goals of its programs. Ecology may recognize sustainable school programs created and implemented within five years of the application date.

This category awards funds to implement school waste reduction and recycling programs. A school can use the funds to:

Buy educational aids and equipment for waste reduction/recycling programs. Examples include purchasing reusable utensils/trays/flatware for school cafeterias, installing bulk milk/juice/water dispensers to reduce food waste, hanging waste-reduction and recycling-focused educational signage, begin operating composting equipment, etc.
Integrate sustainability lessons into the curriculum to help meet the goals established by the State of Washington Environmental Education Guidelines.

This category awards funds to generate newly created and original curricula that:

Introduces students, teachers, staff, and administrators to the concepts of waste reduction, composting, recycling, green chemistry, sustainable design, or circular economy.
Strives to inspire a sense of environmental stewardship in the students and staff.

All developed materials must be made publicly available through the Open Educational Resources (OER) Commons portal.

Deadlines

All applications must be received by 5 p.m. on the date listed to be considered for the corresponding award cycle:

Oct. 31, 2024

Consider these tips when applying for a Waste Not Washington School Award:

Start early
Read the Waste Not Washington School Awards Guidelines
Line up partners committed to the work (within and outside of the school, if possible)
Include a budget that identifies materials, individual costs, total costs, and quotes (can be screenshots of online orders)

Reach out and ask your questions if you have any, we are here to help — schoolawards@ecy.wa.gov.

Below are some additional resources that may help in your efforts:

Plastic Free Restaurants is a nonprofit organization that provides cash subsidies to schools to switch from single-use plastic to reusables
Explore King County Green School’s Program’s Waste Reduction and Recycling Best Practices Guide for Schools
Explore the “Ditching Disposables” school toolkit created by Center for Environmental Health
Download the Reusable Food Serviceware Guide created by Rethink Disposable

Online submissions are strongly encouraged (see links above). All mail applications should be addressed to:

Solid Waste Management Program
Attn: School Awards

Email: schoolawards@ecy.wa.gov

Standard mail (USPS)
P.O. Box 47600
Olympia, WA
98504-7600

All other mail carriers
300 Desmond Dr. SE
Lacey, WA
98503

Contact information

Heather Church
Waste reduction and recycling specialist
schoolawards@ecy.wa.gov
509-688-5358