Community Waste Diversion Fund Guidelines

• Home
• Funding Opportunities
• Community Waste Diversion Fund
• Community Waste Diversion Fund Guidelines

2025-2026 Guidelines

This guide contains all the information you need to apply to the Community Waste Diversion Fund (CWDF). The guidelines have changed significantly for 2025-2026. Please read this document before completing the application form.

About the Fund

The CWDF is a competitive, application-based fund that supports Newfoundland and Labrador Municipalities, Indigenous Community Governments and Local Service Districts to divert solid waste from landfills.

The CWDF provides a non‐repayable contribution covering up to 80% of the eligible costs for a project to a maximum of $25,000. Projects requesting more than $10,000 should demonstrate strong potential for significant waste reduction or diversion, collaboration, and sustainability.

Funding for each project will be allocated for a one-year term and projects must be delivered within the one-year time frame.

Guiding Principles

This program supports the implementation of initiatives or programs that support the Provincial Waste Management Strategy and diverts solid waste from landfills. In general, projects should conform with the following stages of the waste management hierarchy:

1. Reduce the amount of waste created in the first place.
2. Reuse, repair or refurbish materials and products rather than discard them.
3. Recycle waste into another useable form. 
4. Recover some useful benefits from waste.

Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants in Newfoundland and Labrador include:

• Municipalities,
• Indigenous Community Governments, 
• Local Service Districts

Applicants must also carry or intend to carry insurance appropriate to the proposed project to be eligible for funding.

Applicants with an outstanding MMSB-funded project may be required to complete it prior to being considered for a new award.

Provincial agencies, boards, crown corporations, and regional service boards are ineligible.

Projects

To be eligible, the primary goal of the proposed project must be waste diversion or waste reduction. Only one project submission will be considered from each applicant.

*Please note that the larger compost tumblers (e.g. Joracan and Actium Drum) will NOT be part of the Compost Bin Distribution Program in 2025-2026. Larger compost tumblers continue to be eligible under the Community Waste Diversion Fund.

Ineligible Projects 

The following types of projects are ineligible for funding:

• Projects unrelated to solid waste.
• Cleanups.
• Garbage infrastructure, including bins and containers.
• Replacement of existing equipment and assets.
• Projects that primarily benefit a for-profit enterprise or individual.
• Projects that intend to compete with a program offered by a Regional Waste Management Authority.
• Projects related to landfill management or landfill gas capture.

In general, projects that overlap with existing provincial recycling programs (e.g., used beverage containers, used tires, e-waste, used paint, used oil & glycol) are not eligible. For further guidance, please contact us before submitting your application.

Additional Guidance 

Additional guidance is provided for the following project submissions:

• Countertop food waste dehydrator appliances – The pre-processing of food waste unto itself should not be the primary activity for your project. Your project should demonstrate a plan for diversion and beneficial use of food waste. 
• Woodchippers – The chipping of wood unto itself should not be the primary activity for your project. Your project should demonstrate a plan for the diversion and beneficial use of wood waste.
• Public Space Containers – For multi-stream bins (e.g. dual garbage and recycling bin), the garbage portion of the bin is an ineligible cost and therefore may not count towards the applicant’s 20% contribution to the project.

Evaluation Criteria

Evaluation criteria have been revised for 2025-2026. Projects will be evaluated based on the following:

1. Waste Diversion Potential/Impact (20%)
   1. What kind of waste does your project address and how does this waste negatively impact your community?
   2. How much of this waste will your project divert?
   3. What is the long-term waste diversion potential/impact after the project is completed?
2. Community Access and Benefit (30%)
   1. What new or expanded waste diversion programs will this provide to residents?
   2. How often will residents benefit from the project?
   3. What are the co-benefits of the project (e.g., economic or social)?
3. Partnerships and Engagement (30%)
   1. What are the partnerships with other municipalities, community groups, or businesses to implement the project? 
   2. How will partnerships and/or community engagement ensure that the project will be successful and become a sustainable long-term program?
   3. What is the communication and education plan for residents?
4. Project Plan (20%)
   1. Does the implementation plan and timeline adequately address the scope of the project?
   2. What resources are in place to ensure that the project will be successful and become a sustainable long-term program?
   3. How will success for the project be measured?
   4. Is the project budget supported by reasonable cost estimates/quotations and does it align with the project proposal?

Funding

Stacking

• Projects funded by the CWDF may not be stacked (combined) with any other MMSB funding such as the Compost Bin Distribution Program.
• The applicant’s minimum contribution of 20% to the project may not come from a project or equipment previously funded by MMSB

Condition of Funding

• Funding will be in the form of a Contribution Agreement. 
• Successful applicants will receive 50% of the approved sum upon execution of the Contribution Agreement and submission of any requested documentation.
• The remaining funds will be disbursed upon MMSB’s acceptance of the project’s Final Report, subject to documentation of the project’s expenses.
• Eligible project costs are identified in the Contribution Agreement and in the Project Application. Significant changes to the project or project costs require approval from MMSB prior to the expenditure or the costs may be deemed ineligible.

Funding Limitations 

• MMSB has a limited budget for this program and not all projects that apply and meet the established criteria will receive funding.
• Successful applicants may receive full or partial funding.
• MMSB reserves the right to refuse any application received.

Repayment of Funds

MMSB may request the return of funds if:

• The project was not completed within the allowable timeframe.
• The recipient does not provide documentation that the funds were used for the stated purpose of the approved project.
• MMSB funding was improperly stacked to exceed the MMSB’s maximum contribution of 80% to the project.
• The recipient fails to submit a final report. 
• The recipient is declared in default of the terms of the Contribution Agreement.

Project Budget

Budget

• Applications must use the provided budget template and provide a detailed breakdown of project costs and funding sources. 
• Applications should include quotes or estimates to support the budget.
• Budgets should reflect the proposal as submitted and not include any optional activities.
• For applicants requesting the maximum amount of $25,000 from MMSB, the minimum 20% cash or in-kind contribution from the Applicant is $6,250.

Eligible Costs

Examples of project costs eligible for funding include, but are not limited to:

• Costs that are essential to the start-up or operation of the project.
• Costs that represent fair market value.

All purchases must comply with the public procurement framework for Public Bodies in Newfoundland and Labrador.

If the applicant has received or will receive funding from another source, it must be clear which costs will be funded by MMSB and which ones will be covered by other sources. Any overlap in the requested funding for the same costs could disqualify the project.

Ineligible Costs

Examples of project costs ineligible for funding include, but are not limited to:

• Any costs not considered by MMSB as essential to the project.
• Hours of work performed by the proponent or by a member of the immediate family (child, stepchild, ward, spouse, parent, sister, or brother) of the proponent.
• Hours of work performed by an existing employee of the Applicant.
• Gifts and donations.
• Alcoholic refreshments for any occasion.
• Land.
• Advertising costs (excludes signage and public education).
• Waste collection vehicles.
• Infrastructure for garbage collection and disposal.
• Depreciation and amortization of capital assets.
• Replacement of existing assets.
• Project contingency.
• Costs incurred prior to funding approval.
• Refundable portions of HST.
• Administrative overhead.

Reporting Requirements 

As a condition of funding, the successful applicant must: 

• Submit a final report of project activities and results achieved (due dates will be specified in the contribution agreement).
• The final report must include all invoices and receipts for expenses incurred throughout the project and validation that the recipient has met its obligations as set out in the contribution agreement.

Ownership of Project Information and Access to Information

• All documents, including funding applications and project information, submitted to MMSB become the property of MMSB and could be subject to disclosure under the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act. 
• Upon application and document submission to MMSB, the applicant hereby consents to the public disclosure of the provided content. Any information deemed ‘personal’ or ‘confidential’ should be clearly marked as such for due consideration. 
• Please note that MMSB cannot guarantee protection from disclosure regardless of any wishes regarding confidentiality. All contracts entered into with the MMSB are public documents.
• MMSB maintains the right to share application and project information with its personnel, and other entities for the purposes of program planning, evaluation and review, audits and generating statistics.
• MMSB may publish or otherwise disclose in its internal and external communications including press releases and website and social media channels, information on approved funding applications and reports. The purpose of these communications is to advise and inform the public of projects that are funded by MMSB. The disclosure may include the names, titles and affiliations of project leaders, the amount of funding and a summary of the project. By providing any such information to MMSB you agree and consent to its disclosure as outlined.

Application Process

Submission Deadlines

The submission deadline for the 2025-2026 CWDF is Thursday, November 27, 2025, at 4:30 p.m. NST.

Application Process

1. The Application Form for the CWDF must be filled out and submitted online. It is recommended that the application be completed first on your computer and then cut and paste into the application form.
2. The Project Budget Spreadsheet must be completed and submitted with the online application form.
3. Additional information such as quotations or letters of support/partnership should be submitted as well.
4. The application form and budget spreadsheet are available here.