Opportunity Overview
The Washington State Department of Ecology is accepting 2026–2027 Waste Not Washington School Awards applications for projects that reduce waste, expand reuse, recycling or organics management, conduct waste assessments, or continue successful school waste reduction programs. The program has $260,000 available for the 2026–2027 cycle.
Funding and Deadline
Most award categories provide up to $10,000 per project. The Waste Assessment Award is capped at $2,000. No matching funds are required. Applications are due October 31, 2026 at 5:00 PM Pacific Time.
Eligibility
Applicants must be staff members of Washington K–12 public, private, or Tribal schools or school districts applying on behalf of a school or classroom. Projects must focus on waste prevention or reduction, organics management, recycling, or waste assessment. Individual schools may receive one award per cycle. Districts with 29 or fewer schools may receive one award, while districts with 30 or more schools may receive up to two awards, subject to remaining funding rules.
Application and Submission
Ecology provides separate official application forms for four categories: Waste Prevention and Reduction, Organics Management and Recycling, Waste Assessment, and Continuing Success. Applicants should use the application form for the selected category and assemble the required budget, planning document, reporting material, and any applicable support documentation described in the form and guidelines. Ecology prefers email submission to schoolawards@ecy.wa.gov. Completed applications and required supporting documents may also be mailed to the addresses published in the official guidelines.
Eligible and Ineligible Costs
Eligible costs must be necessary, reasonable, documented, within the approved project budget, and not charged to another project. Examples include reusable serviceware and related equipment, bulk food or beverage dispensers, curriculum and waste reduction implementation vendors, protective gear for program activities, composting and recycling equipment, educational materials, and certain project-specific technology or data tracking tools. Ineligible costs include routine business costs unrelated to the approved waste project, replacement of previously purchased reusable items, architectural designs, fuel, ordinary hauling or disposal outside approved pilots, green office supplies, non-toxic cleaning supplies, feasibility studies, and promotional giveaways.
Atlas Analysis
Atlas Opportunity Score: 66/100. This is a clear, currently open Washington K–12 funding opportunity with simple eligibility, no match requirement, a published application process, and a meaningful statewide school audience. Its strategic fit with Atlas healthcare technology is limited.
N9+ Fit Score: 0/100. The Nonagon N9+ device and platform is not a legitimate fit for the funded waste reduction purposes. QC Healthcare fit: 0/100. Dr. Miltie direct-applicant fit: 0/100.
Official Sources
Washington State Department of Ecology — Waste Not Washington School Awards
Waste Not Washington School Awards Guidelines and Scoring Criteria, Publication 25-07-047, revised July 2026