SWMD Grant Program

The MARC Solid Waste Management District provides financial support in the form of annual and small project grants.

The program provides grant funds for implementing waste reduction, reuse, recycling and composting projects. The primary goal of projects is to increase waste diversion within the district. Projects must be located within Cass, Clay, Jackson, Platte and Ray counties in Missouri.

Grant Details

Who is eligible?

Any municipality, county, public institution, nonprofit organization, private business or individual currently operating in the district is eligible to apply. The district represents Cass, Clay, Jackson, Platte, and Ray counties and all cities therein.

What type of projects are eligible?

Funds can be used for various programs including education, waste reduction, reuse, recycling, composting, collection and processing, research and development and market development for products made with diverted materials.

Which funding type fits your needs?

There are two types of SWMD funding available, the annual grants call and the small project assistance fund.

Small Project Assistance Fund

The Small Project Assistance Program is for smaller, six-month projects asking for up to $3,500.

More about Small Project Assistance Funds

Annual Grant Call

The Annual Grant Funding is for larger projects that exceed the scope of the Small Project Assistance Fund.

More about Annual Grant Fund

Selection and funding

What is the selection process?

Applications are evaluated using criteria set forth in Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) regulations and are reviewed by a committee of five to eight volunteers, representing a variety of professional backgrounds. Recommendations for funding are presented to the district’s executive board and are submitted to the state for final approval.

What is the funding source?

The district receives funding for its grant program through the Missouri Solid Waste Management Fund. A $2.11 fee is collected on each ton of solid waste disposed in Missouri landfills or transferred to out-of-state facilities. These funds support solid waste management and diversion programs coordinated by the state’s 20 solid waste districts, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, and EIERA Missouri Market Development Program.

Grantees and Projects

2025 Grant Recipients

Entity	Project	Description	Amount
Kanbe's Markets	Delivering Food Rescue	Project funds are requested to pay the salary for a position to support the expansion of Kanbe's Markets food diversion goals.	$45,077
KC Can Compost	Capacity Building: Transforming Food Waste Awareness into Action	Project funds are requested to pay for a truck and satellite unit to meet capacity needs and to implement a broad educational program to familiarize the public with food waste composting and to encourage action.	$206,872
The Folly Theatre	Folly Theater Recycling Program	Project funds are requested to support costs with implementing a recycling program at the theater.	$46,024
City of Kansas City	Kansas City Composting Education Program	Project funds are requested to support a public food waste composting pilot program with signage.	$10,490
Kansas City Chiefs	Kansas City Chiefs Reusable Cups	Project funds are requested to pay for collection bins and cups to support a reusable cup program at the Chiefs Arrowhead Stadium.	$133,960
Pete's Garden	Pete's Garden 2025 Capacity Building	Project funds are requested to purchase a new walk-in refridgerator to support the work of Food Rescue efforts in the region.	$20,000
The Sewing Labs	Redirection Logistics Associate and Admin Assistant	Project funds are requested to pay the salary for a parttime staff person to intentionally seek donations of material and sewing machines.	$40,000
Total Approved Open Call Grant Projects			$502,423

2024-B Grant Recipients

Entity	Project	Description	Amount
City of Kansas City	Kansas City Event Waste Diversion Pilot	Funds to support a pilot project on recycling and composting at city permitted events to determine whether a city-wide policy requiring such activity at events would be feasible.	$52,292
Kanbe's Markets	Optimizing Food Redirection	Funds to support the salary of a Food Redirection position to increase the feedstock of donated food.	$49,000
Kansas City Metal Recycling	KCMR (Box Truck)	Funds to support purchase of a box truck to pick up car seats and metal for reuse and recycling.	$44,910
Product Stewardship Institute (PSI)	Missouri Tire Stewardship	Funds to provide salaries to support the statewide Tire EPR workgroup and continued support for paint stewardship.	$49,222
Re.Use.Full	Re.Use Program Coordinator	Funds to support the salary of a part-time coordinator to recruit new charity partners for undumpster days, hold repair events and educational webinars on reuse.	$43,311
Rick Caplan	Eco-Spark	Funds to support an educational program in partnership with Idea Space where student teams will develop a waste reduction program tailored for their school	$13,792
ScrapsKC	School Supply Diversion Program	Funds would support salaries for employees to operate the Teacher Resource Program.	$87,203
Total Approved Open Call Grant Projects			$340,250

2024 Grant Recipients

Entity	Project	Description	Amount
Accessibility Medical Equipment	Accessibility Medical Equipment	Salary for a position and equipment including van, truck and van wraps, van lift, and cleaning equipment to divert durable medical equipment for reuse.	$60,153
Flourish Furniture Bank	Reclaiming Furniture, Changing Lives Volunteer Program	Request for salary to support Director of Volunteer Programs, woodshop and sewing equipment to support repair work; volunteer recruitment, and professional services for warehouse re-organization.	$87,485
Kanbes Market	Kanbe’s Markets Food Redirection 2024 Growth Plan	Funds will support the position of a business growth manager.	$49,980
Kansas City Chiefs	Kansas City Chiefs Biodigesters	Request for two biodigesters, one at the Chiefs practice facility and the other at the stadium to divert 100% of food waste generated on location.	$151,200
KC Can Compost	Capacity Building & Events Management	Request for salary to support a Public Programs and Event Director and a part-time driver for material pickup. Funds would also support 100-64 gallon carts for collection. Event Director will work on coordinating with KC2026 to implement food waste composting at the World Cup.	$83,466
Sleepy Head Beds	Radio campaign	Request for funds to promote donations of mattresses for reuse on KCUR and KKFI.	$27,000
Total Approved Open Call Grant Projects			$459,284

Complete list of grants awarded since 1993

Resources for Grantees

Required forms

Grantees are required to submit quarterly reports and invoices electronically or hard copy. To submit via e-mail, reports must be signed, scanned, and provided in PDF format.

Small Projects Final Report Form (.doc)

SWMD Grant Final Report Form (.doc)

SWMD Grant Quarterly Report Form (.doc)

SWMD Grant Program Bidding Worksheet (.doc)

SWMD Grant Program Mileage Form (.doc)

SWMD Grants Program Invoice Form (.doc)

SWMD Grants Program Time Log Sheet (.doc)

SWMD Grants Program Account Sheet (.doc)

SWMD Grant Program Budget Revision Form

SWMD Grant Program How to Invoice Instructions

SWMD Grant Program Time Extension Request Form

Logos

All district-funded projects must recognize the MARC Solid Waste Management District (SWMD). Below are image files of the logos for both screen/web and print, and vector files for print.

Please remember all scripts, publications such as brochures, flyers, signage, and other printed materials intended for distribution that are financed ― wholly or in part by district funds ― must be reviewed by district staff prior to publication.

Logos for Print

For digital