Circular Economy Grant Program
The Circular Economy Grant (CEG) program provides funding for non-profit organizations to lead local waste reduction, reuse, recycling, and composting initiatives to help Calgary move to a circular economy.
Through this program, non-profit organizations can apply for $5,000-$25,000 grants for projects. This pilot program will start in 2023 and run through 2026.
A circular economy eliminates waste and pollution, and conserves resources. It is a shift from a throw-away to a circular mindset to extend the lifecycle of goods, food, and resources through better design and continuous reuse, so nothing goes to waste.
Program details and requirements
Important dates
- Preliminary Application open: February 1, 2023
- Preliminary Application deadline: March 2, 2023
- Successful applicants selected: June 14, 2023
- Circular Economy Grant projects in effect: October 31, 2023 (latest date to begin)
- Circular Economy Grant projects complete: October 31, 2024
- Final reporting due: December 31, 2024
Please note that dates may change – please check on the website for any changes.
Are applications open?
Applications are now closed for the Circular Economy Grants. Please check back for new grant dates in the future.
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Sign-up for the Circular Economy newsletter to keep up-to-date on Circular Economy Initiatives including funding opportunities, important deadlines, information sessions, events, education opportunities, and other related programs and initiatives.
Contact us
Have questions? Contact our team at circulareconomygrants@calgary.ca
What projects can the Circular Economy Grants be used for?
The Circular Economy Grants will provide funding for projects to support community-based actions that contribute to the circular economy in Calgary.
Objectives
Proposed projects should meet one or more of the following objectives:
- Initiate innovative projects and new programs or services to support the movement towards a circular economy.
- Develop innovative methods of recycling or composting collection to reduce the amount of materials going to landfill.
- Enable, empower, and educate individuals, organizations and/or communities to participate in activities that result in the reduction, reuse, or diversion of waste.
- Support individuals, organizations and/or communities who are working towards a circular economy.
- Help individuals, organizations and/or communities that might otherwise be hard to reach and have limited access to programs.
Project examples
Ideas can include but are not limited to the following:
- Sharing, borrowing, fixing, repair or other initiatives that help extend the lifecycle of goods and services (e.g. lending library, clothing swaps, sports or toy exchange events, bike repair, sewing hub, makerspace)
- Recycling, repurposing, reusing, repairing of materials (e.g. electronics, clothing)
- Waste reduction and/or diversion training, education, and engagement (e.g. workshops to provide residents education about the circular economy and/or waste reduction, training to build skills and knowledge to repair or upcycle goods)
- Targeted, focused initiatives for specific materials (e.g. activities developed to reduce home renovation waste, initiatives that reduce single-use disposable items)
- Food waste beneficial reuse or reduction (e.g. resources with ideas and solutions on reducing, reusing, re-purposing food waste and other waste materials, community composting)
- Innovative ways to create new items that use local waste materials
- Development of technology that assists with waste reduction
- Applying behavioural change strategies that result in waste reduction/diversion
For full details on eligibility requirements, please download the CEG Guidelines document (updated January 25).
Not sure if your project idea qualifies for funding? Contact us at circulareconomygrants@calgary.ca.
Grant funding
The City of Calgary will accept grant funding applications for a minimum of $5,000 up to a maximum of $25,000.
Successful applicants will receive a funding approval letter and will be required to sign an agreement with applicable terms and conditions that will govern the funds provided before funds are distributed and the project begins.
Funds for each project will be allocated for a one-year term and projects must be delivered within the one-year timeframe.
For full details on eligibility requirements, please download the CEG Guidelines document.
Who is eligible to receive a Circular Economy Grant?
To be eligible for funding, applicants must be a not-for-profit organization or Society registered in Alberta, or extra-provincially registered in Alberta (e.g. if a Federal not-for profit) or a Business Improvement Area (BIA) established through a City of Calgary bylaw, and have the intent of providing the proposed project within the city of Calgary.
Eligible non-profit organizations could include:
- Community associations
- Community organizations
- Registered charitable organizations
- Environmental organizations
- Social recreation organizations (e.g. senior clubs)
- Business Improvement Areas (BIAs)
- Festival and events' organizers
For full details on eligibility requirements, please download the CEG Guidelines document.
Application steps
Preliminary applications will be reviewed by the Circular Economy Grant review team, comprised of City of Calgary staff. Organizations may be contacted if further information or clarification is required.
It is important applicants retain a complete copy of their application for their own records should The City of Calgary have questions regarding the application.
Select applicants will be invited to proceed to the Detailed Application Stage.
Reporting
Each grant recipient will be required to submit quarterly reports and a final report as specified by The City of Calgary.
It is recommended organizations retain records for seven years from the date of grant closure letter from The City of Calgary.
To maintain transparency and accountability The City will make all funding allocation amounts available publicly.