ScrapDogs Community Compost, LLC is one of six Maine proposals awarded through the Maine Department of Environmental Protection’s first (spring) round of 2022 Waste Diversion Grants for recycling and organics management projects statewide. These projects are targeted to divert waste from disposal by expanding composting and recycling opportunities across Maine.

ScrapDogs was awarded $40,000 for its intent to develop a new satellite compost operation.

“Building on previous successes, ScrapDogs plans to use grant funds to develop a new satellite compost operation in Washington to augment the existing Bo'lait Farm site so that the company may expand their curbside and commercial food collection service to Augusta, Hallowell and Gardiner areas,” said Maine DEP, in a news release.

DEP received 10 proposals requesting a total of $235,355.00 and will award $182,227.36 to fund six of those projects. Maine DEP is providing these grants to help businesses, institutions and municipalities address solid waste management challenges.

“Reducing the volume of materials, we consume by reusing items, and recycling products and packaging can significantly reduce our environmental impacts and help to enhance sustainability, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and cut our overall costs,” said DEP.

The other recipients are:

City of South Portland—$27,318.00

Develop an Electric Tool Lending Library—City will be using grant monies to establish an "Electric Tool Lending Library" to provide residents with free access to land care equipment, while also providing residents with the opportunity to try equipment before they purchase their own.

Chickadee Compost, LLC, Sargentville—$39,894.00

Increase Food Scrap Collection Efficiencies—Chickadee Compost will use their grant funding to improve collection efficiency and overall operations at their current food scrap composting operation by adding EZ Screen 600, purchase 50 32-gallon toters, purchase 100 4-gallon compost buckets, and conduct onsite improvements.  This will greatly enhance the volume of organics currently collected and result in bigger savings for the Blue Hill Peninsula residents.

Northern Aroostook Solid waste Association (NASWA), Eagle Lake—$25,000

Enhance Recycling Infrastructure—NASWA proposes to use grant funds to make significant improvements to the existing recycling infrastructure to increase regional waste diversion efforts

MaineHealth, Portland—31,577.36

Food Scrap Composting and Recycling Upgrades—Waste Diversion Grant funds will enable Maine Medical Center to scale-up a small, staff-initiated recycling and composting program that began at three separate MaineHealth locations to include all MaineHealth facilities located in the Greater Portland area and at Southern Maine Health Care.

Garbage to Garden—City of Sanford, Sanford—$29,010.00

Develop a City-Wide Food Scrap Collection Service—The City of Sanford will work in Principal Partnership with Garbage to Garden (based in Portland) to increase organics diversion through development of a comprehensive curbside collection program.

The Department will be announce the next round of Waste Diversion Grants in August.