Zero Waste Innovations Grant Program

Zero Waste Innovations Grant Flyer

Applications for the ZWIG Program are Live

Applications are now being accepted on WebGrants from Nov. 7 through Dec. 5, 2025, at 5 p.m. PST. The Notice of Funding Opportunity, also accessible on WebGrants, provides application instructions and guidelines.

ZWIg Pre-Application Workshop

View the webinar recording and presentation deck from the Nov. 12 ZWIG Pre-Application Workshop to learn more about application guidelines.

What is the Zero Waste Innovations Grant Program?

The City of San José's Environmental Services Department is launching the Zero Waste Innovations Grant (ZWIG) Program. The ZWIG Program supports creative, community-driven solutions that reduce solid waste while promoting sustainability and a circular economy.

The total budget for the grant is $335,000, with individual one-year grant project awards ranging from $5,000 to $50,000.

Who can apply?

Non-profits
Small businesses (50 or fewer employees)
Community and faith-based organizations
Neighborhood associations and schools or academic institutions
Eligible applicants must be based in San José or recover materials generated in San José.

Award Categories

Waste Prevention & Redesign: Projects that avoid creating waste in the first place by reducing the creation, distribution, or use of materials. This can be achieved through single-use item replacement, redesign, and supporting a circular economy. Preventing waste avoids the need to collect, recycle, or compost materials.

Reuse & Repair: Reuse projects that replace disposable single-use items with durable reusables, extending the life of products and materials through resale, rental, and sharing models. This also includes building deconstruction and dismantling for reuse. Repair projects that support the refurbishment or repair of a faulty or broken product/component return it to a usable state to fulfill its intended use and extend its life, keeping it out of the recycling or landfill streams.

Food Waste Prevention & Recovery: Divert food waste from the landfill; collect and redistribute edible food that would otherwise go to waste or be composted; reuse food or food production by-products to feed animals or make into new products. Prevent food waste from contaminating the residential recycling.

Program Goals

The new competitive grant program, funded by AB 939 landfill and non-disposal fees, has the following goals and objectives:

Goals: help the San José community overcome financial barriers to implementing solid waste reduction practices, expand reusable infrastructure, promote community engagement, and foster innovative partnerships and test new tactics that keep waste out of the landfill.

Objectives: implement strategies from the upcoming Zero Waste Element of the Climate Smart San José Plan to lower solid-waste related greenhouse gas emissions, lower recycling contamination, increase citywide waste diversion, and foster new reuse/recycling markets through grant projects.

Through this grant program, San José seeks to inspire, showcase best practices, and align with other leading zero-waste cities across the nation.

Let’s work together to build a more sustainable San José!

The deadline to apply for the ZWIG program is Dec. 5, 2025, at 5 p.m. PST.

Questions?

Contact us at (408) 975-2505 or via email at ZWIGrants@sanjoseca.gov.

Stay up to date

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