About California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery
CalRecycle is California’s statewide agency funding and regulating waste-reduction, recycling, and diversion infrastructure and programs. It prioritizes capital and pilot investments that expand organics processing, beverage-container and glass recycling systems, recycled-material processing, and legacy landfill remediation, typically supporting municipalities, private processors, and regional consortia. Grants are tied to state policy implementation (e.g., SB 54, CRV program) and frequently include workforce development, market-development, and litter-abatement components.
Focus Areas
Organics processing infrastructure (anaerobic digestion, composting, pre-processing)Beverage container recycling and redemption systems (CRV-related infrastructure and reusable container pilots)Recycled materials processing and market development (fiber, plastics, glass remanufacturing)Glass collection/transportation and regional consolidation pilotsLegacy disposal site cleanup and solid-waste abatement
Giving Approach
Competitive, program-specific grants administered in cycles or continuous intake streams; awards range from mid-six-figure pilot grants to multi-million-dollar capital grants (some program pools exceed tens of millions). Applicants are typically cities, counties, recycling businesses, and consortiums; solicitations publish per-cycle eligibility, award limits, and deadlines.
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How to approach this funder
Apply to the specific program solicitation that matches your project (check program pages for Cycle-specific guidance and per-award caps). Note some streams use continuous intake through set dates (e.g., dealer cooperative stream through 6/30/2026) while others have firm cycle deadlines — review current cycle dates, eligible applicant types (municipalities, private processors, consortia), and required compliance/permit documentation before applying. For large capital projects, expect competitive scoring on infrastructure readiness, GHG/waste diversion outcomes, and market-development/w orkforce plans.
Notable grantees:
• City of Sunnyvale
• City of Bakersfield
• SANCO Services
• Mid-Valley Recycling, LLC
• City of Redding
Open Grant Opportunities
Current and upcoming funding from California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Beverage container recycling infrastructureRedemption system innovationsEmpty glass processing and transport+3 more
Who can apply: Varies by subprogram. Typical applicants include local governments, certified recycling centers, nonprofits, businesses, schools, and dealer cooperatives (for innovation grants). Applicant must meet program-specific requirements and generally be California-based or registered to do business in California.
Deadline: Varies by subprogram (examples: Beverage Container Redemption Innovation Grant Program accepting applications continuously through Jun 30, 2026). Check individual subprogram pages for current deadlines.
Beverage Container Redemption Innovation Grant Program
Beverage container redemptionRecycling innovationSystem pilots
Who can apply: Eligibility varies by solicitation; some innovation subprograms accept applications from dealer cooperatives, local governments, nonprofits, and other entities as specified. See program guidelines for details.
Deadline: Some innovation solicitations operate continuously; specific subprogram noted as continuous through June 30, 2026. Check subprogram pages for current windows.
Beverage container recycling infrastructureRedemption and redemption innovationRecycled glass processing+3 more
Who can apply: Varies by subprogram; eligibility can include certified recycling centers, local governments, nonprofits, businesses, schools. See each subprogram's guidelines for details.
Deadline: Varies by subprogram (examples: Beverage Container Redemption Innovation Grant Program - continuous through June 30, 2026). Check subprogram pages for current deadlines.
Beverage Container Redemption Innovation Grant Program (Dealer Cooperatives, Cycle 5)
beverage container recyclinglitter abatementrecycling infrastructure+1 more
Who can apply: Varies by cycle; eligible applicants include a range of organizations such as nonprofits, local governments, businesses, public colleges/universities, tribal entities (per Cycle 5 details).
Deadline: Continuous intake through June 30, 2026 (per Cycle 5 information).
Deadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
