Green School Grant Program
NYSAR3 established a grant program for public and private K-12 schools for implementation or expansion of waste reduction, reuse, and recycling, and composting programs. Since 2005, NYSAR3 has awarded 100+ schools throughout New York State that have implemented a variety of successful programs that benefited schools across the state.
NYSAR3 is pleased to announce a new round of funds for 2025, for projects implemented during the 2025-2026 school year. Multiple projects will be awarded for a maximum of $1,000 per award. The goal of this grant program is to provide funds to develop new programs or support existing programs related to the 3 R’s (reduce, reuse, and recycle), composting, and outreach. There is a limited pool of available funds and not all projects may be awarded, and awarded projects may not receive the full funds requested. Special consideration will be given to schools located in an area identified as a disadvantaged community*. View map of communities here.
ELIGIBILITY
All public and private, K-12, schools in New York State are eligible to apply for funding. Applicants and programs must:
- Be a public or private school, Grades K-12, located in New York
- Include a goal to increase awareness or minimize waste through waste reduction, reuse, recycling, and/or composting and outreach
- Agree to share program information and data with NYSAR3
SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS
Application packets must include all of the following items:
- Application Form (see page 4)
- Written Project Description (1 page or less, see page 2 for requirements)
- Optional - Supporting Documentation (no more than 3 double-sided pages)
Incomplete applications will not be considered
This round of 2025 applications is closed
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have any questions not in the FAQ document, please email: nysar3greenschoolsgrants@gmail.com.
Congratulations to the 2025 Grant Winners:
Amani Public Charter School, Mount Vernon, NY
Implementing a comprehensive plan that involves every student, faculty member, and staff member to transform the way students interact with waste and food. This program is intended to reduce lunchtime waste by 95%.
Dunkirk Intermediate School (DIS) - Dunkirk City School District, Dunkirk, NY
Implementing an outdoor composting system which will allow the student body to collect cafeteria food waste and place it in outdoor compost bins to heighten their gardening program.
Pine Valley Central School District, South Dayton, NY
The Cafeteria Share Table will encourage students to consider "sharing" unwanted food items. This program will reduce food waste in elementary and high school cafeterias.
Public School 26, Staten Island, NY
Launch a student-led initiative to implement a school-wide composting program, enhance recycling systems, and provide hands-on environmental education to promote long-term waste reduction and sustainability awareness throughout the school community.
Westminster Community Charter School, Buffalo, NY
The Westminster Waste Warriors Recycle and Compost Club partners with the kitchen to collect and compost food waste. Students will participate in weekly composting and recycling efforts promoting waste reduction while creating a culture of environmental stewardship.
Public School/Intermediate School 48 Wilcox, Staten Island, NY
Re-establishing school-wide recycling systems, reviving student-led green teams, and integrating hands-on environmental science into classroom instruction. With a focus on restoring pre-pandemic momentum and deepening environmental literacy, this initiative will engage the entire school community in developing long-term sustainable practices.
P721K Roy Campanella Occupational Training Center, Brooklyn, NY
The “Share Table” project collects unused school breakfast items and redistributes them to local families and the nearby Salt and Sea Food Pantry, with the goal of reducing food waste and supporting those in need; the project is implemented through collection tables on each floor, student-led sorting and bagging, and regular deliveries.
The Brooklyn Green Magnet School for Eco-Activism, Brooklyn, NY
Creating a composting site on campus to enhance their recycling by promoting the three R's and optimizing waste management.
Lake Shore High School, Angola, NY
Students intend to reduce cafeteria food waste through the creation of a composting system. The compost will be used by the garden club to sustain the school community garden.
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Congratulations to the 2024 Grant Winners:
Central Valley Academy, Ilion, NY
Improving recycling within the district by adding to the recycling bins they have and purchase new recycling bins for hallways and common areas to create conformity and ease of use.
Cortland Junior Senior High School, Cortland, NY
Students Against Destructive Decisions (S.A.D.D.) has interest in purchasing clearly labeled containers to collect returnables and reduce waste from the cafeteria, facility room, and athletic fields. S.A.D.D. will also create posters, have them laminated, post on instagram and educate the school community about the importance of recycling.
General Herkimer Elementary, Utica, NY
Provide a year-round growing station for food-source plants and using sustainable resources such as compost and timed watering systems.
Lovejoy Discovery School #43, Buffalo, NY
The school is in its first year of implementation of a paper recycling program. In addition, they also have developed a Food Sharing program in the cafeteria and are launching thier first Thrift Shop to divert textile waste. The next phase of implementation is to introduce a composting program.
PS/IS 384K Frances E. Carter School, Brooklyn, NY
Eco-Sprouts is an innovative program aimed at enhancing soil health and fostering environmental stewardship among students through composting and community gardening. By integrating hands-on food education and emotional literacy into the curriculum, they strive to build a sustainable, green space that nurtures student growth and community well-being.
Red Creek High School, Red Creek, NY
This project proposes to implement a recycling and composing program through Student Council leadership and the purchase of necessary recycling and composing equipment.
Robert C. Parker School, Wynantskill, NY
To complement their newly installed vegetable gardens, they aim to install a three bin composting system to divert food scraps and garden waste away from landfills, and create a natural fertilizer for their gardens.
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Congratulations to the 2023 Grant Winners:
Attica Central School District, Attica, NY:
Create a composting program for food waste at the school.
Bennett Elementary, Boiceville, NY:
Purchase storage shed to keep collected plastics from local businesses to participate in the annual plastic film recycling challenge with the Trex® company.
Bennett Park Montessori Center P.S. 32, Buffalo, NY:
Reduce the amount of single use water bottles used in school by installing a water refill station and providing reusable water bottles to students.
Crown Point Central School, Crown Point, NY:
Create a schoolwide recycling program with a speaker to educate students about recycling.
Olmsted High School, Buffalo, NY:
Improve current composting and gardening projects at the school with better irrigation systems. Also, improve the collection of 5 cent cans and bottles.
Smithtown Central School District, Smithtown, NY:
Provide recycling bins in each classroom to encourage paper recycling on a classroom level.
Spencer-Van Etten Central School District, Spencer, NY:
Regenerate student-led sustainability initiatives impacted by the pandemic.
Urban Assembly New York Harbor School, New York, NY:
Launch an educational campaign for students, staff, and faculty on recycling, composting, and waste management.
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Congratulations to the Fall 2022 Grant Winners:
PS 19 Native American Magnet School, Buffalo, NY:
Reducing the amount of water bottles used in their schools by supplying fresh water through filling stations, increase knowledge about reusing items in a school setting and promote recycling practices in their school.
School 2 Troy City School District, Troy, NY:
Educating their building as a whole as to the importance of environmental conservation.
Leonardo Da Vinci High School, Buffalo, NY:
To more effectively recycle plastic and aluminum in their school.
Lafayette International High School, Buffalo, NY:
Teaching hands-on environmental skills with students relating to composting, healthy soil, and rainwater capture and harvesting from reused / salvaged materials.
Otselic Valley Central School District, South Otselic, NY:
Educating students on recycling basics to ensure collection bins are used correctly and efficiently.
P721K Roy Campanella OTC, Brooklyn, NY:
Maximizing student engagement and creating a connection to our earth through Environmentally Friendly lessons, activities and events.
Trinity Elementary School, New Rochelle, NY:
Expanding the gardening program to include composting and summer caretaking, with the goal of using their garden as an interdisciplinary instructional space, particularly for special education students, as well as a way to build community with their families.
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Congratulations to the Fall 2020 Grant Winners:
The Harley School, Rochester, NY:
Creating a composting system that reduces waste and supports learning of sustainable behavior by Harley students, faculty, and staff.
Pleasantville High School, Pleasantville, NY:
Creating a worm composting program within the school system.
F.E.Smith Intermediate School, Cortland, NY:
Promoting composting and gardening practices through a student-run composting program. New composting receptacles and compost equipment will be purchased.
