Dive Brief:

• After a nine-month search, the Closed Loop Foundation has selected eight groups from across the country to receive grant money due to their "viable and replicable solutions to reduce food waste in the U.S.," according to an emailed press release. 
• The solutions range from building a collection and processing system for restaurant and retail composting, to developing technology that converts food waste into sludge that can be incorporated at wastewater digesters.
• The Foundation reviewed over 150 proposals that dealt with the reduction, recovery and recycling of food waste with "financial support" from the City of Phoenix and the Walmart Foundation. The Foundation will spread $350,000 across the eight groups.

Dive Insight:

By focusing on food waste solutions that are local but crucially replicable, the Closed Loop Foundation is strategically investing in projects that will have an recurring impact on various communities.  And, if previous reports from the Closed Loop Fund are any indication, the investment in reducing food waste could be a wild success. According to the Fund's latest report, $25 million invested in recycling infrastructure helped leverage over $64 million in co-investment and over $500,000 in economic benefit. The Fund has worked to assist with the diversion of over 98,000 tons of material for recycling and eliminated 232,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions. 

While they're not the most exciting topic, grants play an important role in the waste and recycling industry. Grant money has been crucial for some states in developing recycling programs and education programs in cities like Chicago and St. Paul, MN. As the industry battles budget cuts in different states and faces a worker shortage, grant money may become more crucial for program development and industry expansion.