NEWS RELEASE: San José Launches Program to Drive Community Innovation in Waste Reduction

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Jennie Loft, Public Information Manager, Environmental Services Department 408-250-2974; [email protected] San José Launches Program to Drive Community Innovation in Waste Reduction Zero Waste Innovation Grants invest in local reuse and recycling solutions SAN JOSE, Calif. (Nov. 7, 2025) - The City of San José's Environmental Services Department (ESD) has launched the Zero Waste Innovations Grant (ZWIG) Program, a community-led waste reduction project. Designed to create innovative new partnerships and increase community engagement, the program supports locally driven ideas to reduce solid waste and ultimately help lower greenhouse gas emissions. The ZWIG program will inject up to $335,000 into the local economy through grants for one-year projects, with individual grant awards ranging from $5,000 to $50,000. The ZWIG program aims to empower the community to keep waste out of landfills, strengthen local reuse and recycling systems, and advance San José's zero waste targets. "The ZWIG program supports San José's commitment to providing sustainable services that protect public health and the environment," said City Manager Jennifer Maguire. "By investing in community-driven solutions to reduce waste, we're helping build a more resilient city." "We don't solve our greatest challenges by doing things the way we always have. And many of the best ideas don't come from the top down, but from the bottom up," said Mayor Matt Mahan. "We're empowering residents to rethink how we can reduce waste, build smarter solutions, and move San José closer to our zero waste future." Funded by Assembly Bill 939 and landfill and non-disposal facility fees, the ZWIG program is open to non-profits, small businesses (50 or fewer employees), community and faith-based organizations, neighborhood associations, and schools or academic institutions based in San José. The program helps remove financial barriers that may prevent the community from putting solid waste reduction practices into action and expand reusable infrastructure. ZWIG offers funding in three main categories: Waste Prevention & Redesign: Projects that eliminate waste by redesigning products or reducing material use. Reuse & Repair: Projects that extend the life of products and materials through reuse, resale, rental, or repair. Food Waste Prevention & Recovery: Projects that prevent food waste or recover edible food to redistribute within the community. "This grant program solidifies ESD's commitment to provide stellar programs and services to our customers and encourages residents to help find solutions to reduce waste through innovation," said Environmental Services Director Jeff Provenzano. Applications will be accepted November 7 through December 5, 2025. For program details, eligibility requirements, visit https://www.SJEnvironment.org/ZWIGrants. About the City of San José With almost 1 million residents, San José is one of the most diverse large cities in the United States and is Northern California's largest city and the 12th largest city in the nation. San José's transformation into a global innovation center has resulted in one of the largest concentrations of technology companies and expertise in the world. About the Environmental Services Department The San José Environmental Services Department (ESD) manages garbage and recycling services; watershed protection and pollution prevention; municipal drinking water and recycled water; sustainability initiatives; and the operation and infrastructure improvements of the San José-Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility (RWF). ESD's mission is to deliver world-class utility services and programs to improve our health, environment and economy. It is one of the largest City departments with about 600 staff members, a $470M operating budget, and a $2B, 30-year RWF Capital Improvement Program. ###