CleanBC - Organics Funding Program

Program Category: Clean Energy, Built Environment, Climate Mitigation, Environment, Community Infrastructure

Program Sub-Category: Renewable Energy, Environmental Stewardship, Economic Development, Waste Reduction and Circular Economy

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Status: Closed

Funder

BC Ministry of Environment and Parks (ENV)

Deadline Details

2025/2026 fiscal year ($4.2M): December 3, 2024 to February 13, 2025
2026/2027 fiscal year ($8.4M): TBD

The CleanBC – Organics Funding Program (OFP) reduces greenhouse gas emissions by investing in organics infrastructure or collections programs in B.C. that increase the diversion of organic waste material that is currently being sent to landfills.

The OFP funding supports a $22.5 million investment towards building and expanding organic waste-processing facilities in B.C. The B.C. government will contribute $15 million to fund up to 66% of eligible project costs of the successful projects.

There are two sub-streams of the OFP:

Organic Processing Infrastructure: Funding under this stream will support eligible applicants with the building of new, or expansion of existing, organic waste processing infrastructure that will result in increased processing capacity.
Residential Curbside Collection: Funding under this stream will support eligible applicants in the development of new, or the expansion of existing residential organic waste curbside collection programs that result in an increased amount of organic waste diverted from landfills. Under this stream, funding will be provided for programs materials, such as: thepurchasing of curbside and/or kitchen collection bins, the development of communication and educational outreach packages and/or programs, and the initial distribution of funded materials to residents.

Eligible Community

An eligible applicant must be one of the following:

An Indigenous governing body, as defined in the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act;
Municipalities of B.C.; and
Regional Districts; including Metro Vancouver Regional District and Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District (GVS&DD).

Required Community Contribution

Community contribution required (please see program website)

One third of eligible project costs, plus any and all ineligible costs and cost overruns.

Funding Stacking Restrictions

The applicant’s share of funds can come from funding from other government programs. Fund stacking is defined as combining multiple sources of funding on one project.

Professional Input Required

Yes

There may be instances where input from an Engineer is needed to develop the mandatory supporting documents, to be submitted with the application in LGIS. For example, the following mandatory documents from Section 4.4 of the OFP Guide, will need to be completed by an Engineer:

Detailed engineering feasibility study of options (infrastructure only); and
Licenses, permits and/or approvals – an engineer may be required to complete the necessary studies to obtained these authorizations.

Specific Eligibility Requirements

Projects must meet all applicable criteria in section 2 of the CleanBC – Organics Funding Program Guide to be considered eligible for funding.

Range of Funding Available per Project

Under $100 000
From $100 000 to $1 000 000
Over $1 000 000

Description of Funding

The B.C. government will contribute $15 million to fund up to 66% of eligible project costs of the successful projects.

Percentage of Project Funded

66%

2025/2026 fiscal year: up to two thirds of eligible project costs incurred on or before March 31, 2027.

2026/2027 fiscal year: up to two thirds of eligible project costs incurred on or before March 31, 2028.

Eligible Costs

Engineering
Design
Community Engagement
Equipment/Material Purchase
Project Management
Staff Costs
Administration Fees
Training
Reporting
Awareness and Education

Eligible project costs will be all costs considered by the Province to be direct and necessary for the successful implementation of the project, including:

Management and professional service costs required to develop and construct the facility, such as accounting, monitoring, communications, official languages translation, audit charges, GHG emission reductions, and results monitoring, measuring and reporting;
Materials and supplies costs;
Printing, production, and distribution costs;
Equipment and capital asset purchase or rental, except vehicles, directly related to the construction and/or operations of the facility. Purchased equipment and capital assets must be acquired with ownership retained by the recipient until at least March 31, 2037 to be eligible;
Contractors required to perform activities related to the project components;
Training fees directly related to the operation of the facility;
Expenditures related to meetings or ceremonies with First Nations communities (including traditional medicines, cultural foods, tea and sacred plants) for seeking input and engagement of a proposed processing facility in proximity with a First Nations communities;
Monetary Honoraria offered to Indigenous Elders and/or Knowledge Keepers for seeking input and engagement of an organic processing facility in proximity with First Nations communities. This may also include a traditional opening/closing ceremony and/or prayer, and the sharing of Indigenous knowledge and protocols (including spiritual advice to individuals);
Any Goods and Services Tax / Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST) that is not reimbursable by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), and any Provincial Sales Tax (PST) not reimbursable by the Province;
Administrative and overhead administration costs, which includes incremental human resource costs, including salaries and benefits; and
Other costs that, in the opinion of the Province, are considered to be direct and necessary for the successful implementation of the project and have been approved by the Province in writing prior to being incurred.
Payments by the Recipient under a Partnering Agreement reimbursing the Partner for expenses described in 3.1 (a) to (k)

Ineligible Costs

Any costs incurred prior to signing a funding agreement
Building Purchase Costs
Land Acquisition

Ineligible project costs and any cost overruns of the proposed budget are the responsibility of the applicant and are not considered as part of their contribution towards eligible project costs. In addition, the following are considered ineligible project costs:

Costs incurred prior to contract being signed with Province for funding;
Amounts previously reimbursed under other federal and/or provincial funding programs;
Costs incurred for withdrawn or cancelled project components;
Land acquisition, leasing land, buildings and other facilities, leasing equipment other than equipment directly related to the construction of the project, and real estate including fees and related costs
Financing charges, legal fees, and loan interest payments, including those related to easements (e.g., easement surveys);
Provincial Sales Tax (PST) and Goods and Services Tax / Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST), for which the recipient is eligible for a rebate, and any other costs eligible for rebates;
Operating costs or any costs incurred for routine operations, maintenance, or repairs;
Funding for organic waste diversion costs (e.g., organics hauling, operations of collection services, transferring, etc.), except costs associated with 3.1 (b) and (c);
Any goods or services received by the applicant as a donation or in-kind contribution;
Insurance;
Professional membership dues or licenses;
Depreciation/amortization expenses;
Office rent, maintenance expenses and utilities;
Business meeting expenses;
Travel costs;
Vehicle rental, purchasing, operation, maintenance, and repair costs;
Facility and/or residential organic curbside collection program operational maintenance and/or repair costs;
Feasibility studies and pilot projects; and
Eligible costs incurred after March 31, 2027.

Reporting Requirements

Progress reports and final reports

Expected Timeframe for Funding Decision

2025/2026 fiscal year: awarded Spring 2025; 2026/2027 fiscal year: awarded Spring 2026