Solid Waste Management Innovation Fund
Supporting sustainable waste management projects.
Since the launch of the Solid Waste Management Innovation Fund (SWMIF) in 2008, MMSB has funded over 95 projects – totalling over $1.2 million.
Program Eligibility
Provincially owned and/or operated businesses, industry associations and non-profit organizations can apply for a maximum non-repayable contribution up to $50,000. Applications can be submitted at any time throughout the year.
Funding is available to support the development of new or improved technologies, products, services, or processes that support the management of solid waste in Newfoundland and Labrador. Projects can operate at any stage of the waste management hierarchy (reduce, reuse, recycle, or recover).
For more information on how to apply, contact: apply@mmsb.nl.ca
Innovation in Action
Watch the videos below to learn about several of our Champions for a Greener Future putting the Solid Waste Management Innovation Fund to great use.
Submission Guidelines
Proposals must be submitted in the format outlined in the terms of reference to be eligible for consideration.
SWMIF Past Recipients
With the help of the Solid Waste Management Innovation Fund, many businesses and organizations in Newfoundland and Labrador have developed and implemented sustainable waste management programs to ensure a clean and healthy environment.
ACAP Humber Arm – $46,228.07
Funding will support a project to collect, measure, and reuse for end-of-life fishing gear in local Harbour Authorities throughout the Long-Range Mountain region of Newfoundland. The project will conduct monitoring and outreach to understand the type and quantity of disposed fishing gear, identify opportunities for its reuse, and identify barriers to waste diversion in the fishing industry.
ASL Energy – $50,000
Funding will support a project for the diversion of plastic waste from the aquaculture industries.
Blivet Marketing Systems – $23,917.50
Funding will support the testing of a prototype passive single-dwelling wastewater treatment system that uses waste crab shells and wood char as filter media. The prototype and filters will be manufactured locally.
Habitat for Humanity – $22,093.75
Funding will support the implementation of the ReStore Salvage Program which will recover usable building materials, such as complete kitchens, prior to demolition or renovation.
Strong Data Inc – $50,000
Funding will support the integration of Business Intelligence with their waste management vehicle scale software.
Diabetes Canada, Promotion of Clothing Drives and Textile Collection – $11,500
Funding will support communications efforts to encourage residents in St. John’s, Mount Pearl, and Paradise to participate in Diabetes Canada’s self-scheduling household collection service and curbside events.
Gros Morne Inn/Taste Restaurant, Organic Waste Diversion Program – $15,000
Funding will support the purchase and installation of an on-site commercial composter to divert organic waste from the business and community. Compost will be used for gardening projects at the Inn.
Happy Valley-Goose Bay Status of Women’s Council, Textile Waste Reduction – $6,504
Funding will support the groups social enterprise, Thrifty Fashions, in reducing textile waste by introducing equipment to clean soiled donations that would otherwise be disposed.
Home Again Furniture Bank, Second Chance: Keeping Furniture Where It Belongs – $10,928
Funding will support a new furniture cleaning project that will allow Home Again to accept plush furniture from homes of pet-owners, expanding its list of potential donors and in turn, better meeting the needs of recipients.
Inverte FoodTech Inc., Precise Portioning for Restaurants – $10,415
Funding will support a pilot project to introduce a technological solution for precise portioning in St. John’s casual-dining restaurants, aimed at reducing food and plastic waste.
O’Brien Farm Foundation, Community and Farm Composting – $14,700
Funding will support the development of a community and farm composting initiative using Aerated Static Pile (ASP) technology.
SmartBin, Camera-Based Sensor – $15,000
Funding will support SmartBin in developing a camera and machine learning-based sensor that allows waste management companies to identify recyclable material and avoid waste contamination, generating greater efficiencies in waste collection.
St. John’s Tool Library, Zero Waste Festival – $14,480
Funding will support the creation of a Zero Waste Festival that includes several events held throughout the year with the goal of reducing solid waste and promoting waste reduction strategies. This event will be the first of its kind in Newfoundland and Labrador.
T&H Cleaning and Maintenance Services Inc., Reducing Wood Waste – $15,000
Funding will support the recipient in expanding its services to clients and diverting previously landfilled wood waste through the purchase of a tow behind wood-chipper.
Atlantic Mushrooms Inc. – Solutions for Toxic Wood Waste: $14,764
This joint venture pilot project with Central Newfoundland Waste Management will use proprietary strains of proven, commercially produced, native mushrooms that can consume creosote-treated wood, dramatically reducing its toxicity while reducing it in mass. Three test plots will be developed that will consume 100 metric tonnes of creosote timbers.
Second Harvest Food Rescue – Supporting Food Rescue and Delivery: $15,000
Working with a network of agency partners and food donors across the province, Second Harvest will continue to facilitate the rescue of surplus food that would have been sent to landfills and its redistribution to people facing food insecurity. Funding will support further growth of a food rescue program in Newfoundland and Labrador by introducing 55 new partners, bringing the total to over 180.
Habitat for Humanity NL – Pilot for Opening a West Coast Online Operated Satellite ReStore: $15,000
By accepting and reselling quality, used, home improvement items, ReStore breathes new life into old goods with profits supporting charitable build projects. Funding will support the opening of a satellite warehouse location in Corner Brook, where donations can be housed and listed online to be sold to the public, diverting tonnes of solid waste from landfills on the west coast of the province.
G&M Family Farm – Engineered Soil: $12,658
Funding will support the development of a recipe for engineered soils that can substitute currently imported soils, reducing the carbon footprint associated with importing. The recipe will use nutrient-depleted soils and composted organic matter from the farm and Freshwater community. This project will be the first of its kind in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Royal Inn & Suites – Reduction of Single-Use Plastic Bottles: $13,010
Funding will support The Royal Inn & Suites in undertaking a substantial project to install an innovative water system in the hotel to reduce the reliance of single-use plastic bottles. The new system will provide each guest room with reusable glass bottled filtered water and a dispensing system at the front lobby to refill containers.
Second Harvest – $15,000
Funding will support the growth of a food rescue program in Newfoundland and Labrador. Working with a network of agency partners and food donors across the province, Second Harvest will facilitate the rescue of surplus food that would have been sent to landfills and its redistribution to people facing food insecurity.
Clean St. John’s, Zero Cigarette Butt Pilot Project – $15,000
Funding will support the implementation of a pilot project to reduce cigarette butt litter in the downtown St. John’s area. Cigarette butts will be collected and recycled from the 40 receptacles being installed.
Island Propane Ltd., Refurbishing and Recycling of Used Propane Tanks – $15,000
Funding will support a new sandblasting system to improve efficiency for the refurbishing and recycling of propane tanks.
Social Justice Cooperative NL, Urban Community Composting – $4,117
Funding will support the implementation of an Urban Community Composting Project to collect organics from at least 10 to 20 households in downtown St.John’s.
Windy Heights Farm, Technology-Based Improvements to On-Farm Composting – $15,000
Funding will support the development of an aerated floor compost system, which allows the rapid breakdown of organic materials. The operation also provides an opportunity to transfer heat from the hot compost system which can be used in radiant floor systems.
Ever Green Environmental, Aluminum Densification – $15,000
Funding will support the purchase of an aluminum densifier, which will compact and deliquefy large volumes of pre-market cans, creating small cubes of quality aluminum that can be recycled. The new machine will improve overall efficiency, allowing higher volumes of aluminum to be processed.
The Farm at Eastern Nuddick Ltd., Fish Waste Compost & Reuse of Packaging – $12,000
Funding will support two trial regenerative agriculture initiatives on Fogo Island: the repurposing of commercial fish waste into organic-grade compost and the reuse of Expanded Polystyrene containers for export packaging.
Island Propane – $15,000
Improving operational processes to increase the number of large propane tanks recycled.
Avalon Mall/Crombie REIT – $15,000
Improvement of operational processes in organic waste management system at the largest food court in the province.
3F Waste Recovery – $8,000
Developing a scalable, commercially viable production process for the extraction of unrefined and lightly refined ingredients from sheep farm by-products.
St John’s Baby Clothes Library – $4,480
Reduction of textile waste by redistributing bundles of gently used second-hand clothing.
Association Communataire Francophone De Saint Jean – $2,500
Developing of a community composting site and creation of a zero-waste event centre.
Fytics – $14,000
Continued development of the Proprietary Inventory Management system to track and manage food waste in restaurants.
Avalon Mall/Crombie REIT – $15,000
Installation of an In-vessel Composting Unit to manage organic waste from the food court of the largest shopping mall in Newfoundland & Labrador.
Deer Lake Tourism Development Corporation – $13,540
Supporting the town of Deer Lake with the development of a curb-side organic waste collection service.
R&D Diversions – $15,000
Development of a commercial organic waste diversion program using an in-vessel composting system.
SucSeed – $4,450
Reducing plastic waste generated in the manufacturing process of SucSeed’s hydroponic system.
3F Waste Recovery – $15,000
Creation of a new hybrid tumbling composter solution capable of processing mid-range organic waste volumes.
HVGB Recyclers – $7,800
Expanding the recycling capacity of the Town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay through social enterprise.
Island Compost – $15,000
Expansion of residential organics collection service within the St John’s CMA.
Island Propane – $15,000
Refurbish and recycle large propane tanks.
Hi-Point Industries – $15,000
Pilot the use of a modular aerated bin system for composting.
Ever Green Environmental – $15,000
Recycle bulk plastics using a plastic granulator.
Co-Lab Software – $12,000
Develop software to streamline the manufacturing design process, reducing prototype waste.
SucSeed – $8,000
Expand SucSeed hydroponic system to 10 new communities.
Fytics – $10,000
Develop software to track inventory and food waste in restaurants.
St. John’s Farmers’ Market – $13,000
Establish a Zero-Waste Farmers’ Market.
Ryan Manuel Construction – $15,000
Grind wood waste for alternative uses.
Choices for Youth – $9,000
Recycle unwanted textiles into automotive rags.
Boomerang Bags – $2,000
Production and distribution of cloth shopping bags from discarded materialsc
Memorial University Graduate Students’ Union (GSU) – $13,750
Implement an onsite composting program for food waste generated at Bitters restaurant, GSU office, and graduate student residences.
Newfoundland Industrial Composting – $10,820
Explore the feasibility of collecting used drywall and creating an additive to livestock bedding material and soil fertilizer.
Western Environment Centre – $8,600
Engage up to 40 households in a centralized composting program.
JCW Enterprises – $15,000
Install equipment to sort spent lead and brass ammunition casings (from its indoor recreational shooting facility) for resale and reuse.
Avalon Recycling Services – $10,728
Produce an alternative to livestock and hobby farm bedding from waste cardboard.
Food First NL – $11,500
Engage families and communities in reducing household food waste by developing and disseminating food-reduction resources.
The Anchor Inn and Suites – $12,000
Operate the first industrial composter located onsite at a hotel in the province, while exploring the potential to incorporate organic waste from other businesses in the Twillingate area.
The Autism Society of Newfoundland and Labrador – $14,637
Operate the first industrial composter located onsite at a restaurant in the province, while working in partnership with local organizations to increase organic waste diversion.
Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) – $15,000
Research and develop a marine waste stewardship program dedicated to engaging fishers and harbour authorities in sustainable waste management practices at sea.
Home Again Furniture Bank – $8,672
Operate a collection and drop-off service for furniture and household items for donation to community members in need of items
Indian Bay Ecosystem Corporation – $5,156
Support the conservation of the Indian Bay ecosystem through the development of a community garden and composting program that engages community volunteers and students from the local elementary school.
Island Compost – $12,000
Operate the first residential collection program for organic waste materials in Eastern Newfoundland.
Mallard Cottage – $12,500
Divert organic waste by formally engaging staff in the development of a new, on-site composting program.
Nature Bound Designs – $2,655
Upcycle damaged ceramic and glass tile into mosaic art pieces and home decorating projects while selling packaged waste tiles to other artists.
Placentia West Heritage Committee – $9,180
Collect and sort textiles to be repaired, donated, or recycled to produce rugs and mats, while hosting workshops and displays to educate the public about the importance of recycling textiles.
Shell-Ex – $8,172
Divert crab shell waste by processing the material into a product that can be added as an ingredient in their line of soil conditioning products.
Chicken Farmers of NL – $12,092
Explore the potential to produce a bedding material from paper and cardboard that is suitable for the chicken farming industry.
Esteem Women – $5,000
Reuse common waste items while engaging young women in hands-on creative activities.
Ever Green Environmental – $15,000
Reduce the environmental impact of the production and shipping of new glass bottles by expanding its wine relabeling and reuse program.
From Nature’s Seeds – $13,580
Compost shrimp shells in partnership with the Northern Peninsula Regional Service Board.
Lester Farms Inc. – $4,004
Explore feasibility of using commercial bakery waste as a pig feed substitute.
Newfound Fibre Products – $14,360
Repurpose residential and commercial cardboard for livestock bedding for local farmers.
Petty Harbour Mini-Aquarium – $2,500
Deliver a “Keep Our Sea Waste-Free” program, designed to educate visitors about the connection between household waste and marine debris.
Shell-Ex – $15,000
Process fishery and aquaculture by-products and poultry feathers into protein meals, fish oil and chitin-rich shell that can be sold to local, national and international marketso
Abydoz Environmental – $11,000
Explore options to incorporate recycled glass into engineered wetlands and natural sewage treatment systems.
ChrisDarMar Farms – $8,769
Divert chicken farm waste from landfill using compost drum technology to create an environmentally-safe material that can be used as soil amendment.
Petty Harbour Mini-Aquarium – $3,500
Deliver a Waste Watchers Program designed to educate visitors about the impact of garbage and litter on marine life.
Natalie Jewellery – $5,000
Increase capacity and production of uniquely designed jewellery made from reclaimed materials such as copper water pipe, car parts, and motors from old appliances.
ROLES Project – $11,000
Restore abandoned mineral exploration sites in Labrador by properly disposing of hazardous waste that could otherwise negatively impact vegetation, wildlife habitats, and water.
Lester Farms Inc. – $15,000
Compost commercial coffee grounds to produce and research a soil amendment that yields optimal nutrient values in soil and crops.
Morrison Hershfield – $15,000
Create a Construction Waste Diversion Plan that provides contractors and construction professionals with best practices for reducing, reusing, and recycling construction and demolition waste.
STORM Brewing – $12,200
Implement a bottle reuse program to collect and wash empty bottles for refilling, reducing the environmental impact of the production and shipping of new glass bottles.
Blue Ocean Sea Products – $9,600
Explore the potential to extract Chitosan from shrimp and crab shells.
Dr. Shariq Alam – $8,000
Explore the bio-adsorbent properties of crab and shrimp shells in the remediation of acid mine drainage.
J & C Sod Farm – $4,950
Develop and test both an organic shrimp-waste vermicompost and a worm tea, for use as a soil enhancer or fertilizer.
Northern Seafoods – $8,000
Investigate and develop a program using reusable freezer trays to replace corrugated inner cardboard cartons used to freeze product at fish processing facilities.
College of the North Atlantic – $10,000
Explore the potential for ash produced by the pulp and paper industry to be safely reused for agricultural, horticultural, and forestry applications.
Enviro-Shred – $10,000
Develop and investigate the effectiveness of a slurry made from wastepaper as an alternate daily landfill cover.
Ever Green Environmental – $10,000
Develop an industrial-level system for recovery, de-labelling and sanitization of wine bottles that aims to provide 500,000 wine bottles annually for use by Newfoundland-based wineries.
Hebert’s Recycling Inc. – $7,498
Enviropactor testing.