Application for Regional Recycling and Edible Food Recovery Grant (RREFR)

Description

The Regional Recycling and Edible Food Recovery (RREFR) program provides funding to support projects that advance recycling, waste reduction, and edible food recovery efforts in Orange County. Administered by OC Waste & Recycling (OCWR), the program helps meet state-mandated waste diversion requirements, including Assembly Bill 939 and Senate Bill 1383, which require jurisdictions statewide to recover 20 percent of surplus edible food.The RREFR grant focuses on expanding edible food recovery countywide. The 2024 Edible Food Recovery Capacity Planning Report projects that, between 2025 and 2034, 40,000 tons of edible food will be landfilled compared to just 10,000 tons recovered. The grant aims to bridge the gap by strengthening regional infrastructure for the safe collection, storage, transportation, and distribution of edible food, and by supporting projects that achieve measurable diversion of edible food from landfills. OCWR hosted a live question and answer virtual session on Thursday, March 19, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. via Zoom. To access the recorded video, please visit OClandfills.com/grants. Questions may still be submitted through Friday, May 8, 2026.Due to strong interest and response from the community, OC Waste & Recycling (OCWR) has extended the application deadline for the Regional Recycling and Edible Food Recovery Grant Program to May 15, 2026, at 4:59 p.m. Please r