Seattle Opens ReThink Waste Grant Applications

Seattle Public Utilities and WM opened applications on April 23 for the 2026 ReThink Waste Grants, a small-grant program for community organizations, nonprofits and small businesses in Seattle. The city and the waste company said the program is intended to fund neighborhood projects that prevent waste, expand recycling and increase composting. The 2026 round is the eighth year of the partnership, according to Seattle Public Utilities. Applications will be accepted through Tuesday, June 16. ### Who can apply for the grants? Seattle Public Utilities said the 2026 grants are open to community organizations, small businesses and nonprofits in WM’s service area in Seattle. WM’s Seattle materials say the eligible area is tied to the company’s service footprint inside the city. The city and WM described the grants as aimed at local groups with practical, community-based waste reduction ideas. (atyourservice.seattle.gov) WM said the grants can support projects tied to recycling, composting and waste prevention. Seattle Public Utilities said examples include circular-economy pilots, reuse programs, repair workshops and waste-prevention campaigns. Those examples show the program is not limited to collection or disposal projects; it also covers efforts focused on keeping materials in use longer. (atyourservice.seattle.gov) ### How much money is available? Seattle Public Utilities said $10,000 is available in the 2026 round. Individual awards range from $500 to $5,000 per project, according to the city’s April 23 announcement and WM’s grant flyer. That means the program is structured for smaller, targeted projects rather than large capital builds. (atyourservice.seattle.gov) The 2025 version of the program also distributed $10,000 across five organizations, according to Seattle Public Utilities’ November 19, 2025 announcement on last year’s recipients. Seattle Public Utilities said those grants backed projects designed to prevent waste, promote recycling and composting, and advance a circular economy in Seattle. (atyourservice.seattle.gov) ### What kinds of projects fit this year’s application? Seattle Public Utilities said the ReThink Waste Grants support “creative, community-driven projects” in Seattle neighborhoods. The city’s description points applicants toward projects that can reduce landfill-bound material by helping residents reuse goods, repair items, compost organics or recycle more effectively. (atyourservice.seattle.gov) Waste-related community grants are one part of Seattle Public Utilities’ broader environmental programs. The utility’s community programs page lists waste-free grants among its efforts to work with residents on environmental justice, service equity and pollution prevention. A separate 2026 city grant program highlighted textile waste prevention and job training for refugee and immigrant women, showing that Seattle is continuing to use grant funding for targeted waste-reduction work beyond the WM partnership. (atyourservice.seattle.gov) ### Why are Seattle Public Utilities and WM running the program together? Seattle Public Utilities and WM said they are partnering for the eighth year in a row on the 2026 grants. In Seattle, WM provides service in parts of the city, including residential collection inside city limits and commercial garbage service in designated areas, according to WM’s Seattle service pages. The grant program links that operating relationship to community waste-reduction projects. (seattle.gov) Seattle Public Utilities’ previous recipient announcements show the city and WM have used the program to fund local organizations working on reuse and circular-economy efforts. In 2024, the city said the grants were intended to advance waste prevention, waste reduction, recycling and composting while expanding access to tools and resources for community participation. (atyourservice.seattle.gov) ### Where do applicants find the deadline and application materials? Seattle Public Utilities posted the 2026 application announcement on its At Your Service news site on April 23. WM published a grant flyer stating that applications are being accepted through Tuesday, June 16, and both organizations direct applicants to the program materials online. (atyourservice.seattle.gov) June 16 is the next concrete date in the process. Seattle organizations, nonprofits and small businesses in WM’s Seattle service area can use the Seattle Public Utilities and WM program pages to review eligibility and submit an application before that deadline. (atyourservice.seattle.gov)