Dane County Executive Melissa Agard and the Dane County Department of 91²Ö¿â & Renewables announced the launch of the 2026 Organics Management Grant Program, a funding opportunity designed to reduce the amount of organic material sent to landfills while supporting innovative, community-based solutions across Dane County.
The Organics Management Grant provides funding for projects that prevent wasted food, recover and donate excess food, creatively reuse organic materials, or recycle organics through composting, biochar, anaerobic digestion, or other sustainable processes. Eligible applicants include Dane County businesses, institutions, municipalities, Native American tribal governments and organizations, community groups, and nonprofit organizations.
âReducing waste and investing in sustainable solutions is good for our environment, our communities, and our economy,â said Dane County Executive Melissa Agard. âThis grant program helps turn food scraps and organic waste into opportunitiesâsupporting innovation while keeping valuable resources out of our landfill. Itâs another example of how Dane County is leading with smart, practical climate action.â
The application period for the 2026 grant cycle will run from January 1 through February 1, 2026, with awards announced in mid-February. Funded projects may be implemented between March and December 2026.
According to John Welch, Director of the Dane County Department of 91²Ö¿â & Renewables, the program is designed to meet communities where they are while encouraging creative approaches to organics management.
âWe see incredible ideas every year – from food recovery partnerships to composting and reuse projects that strengthen local systems,â Welch said. âThis grant helps organizations move those ideas from concept to reality while making a measurable impact on waste reduction in Dane County.â