Capital project: Organic Waste-to-Energy

• The applicant must be a Canadian municipal government or an eligible municipal partner (e.g., private sector entity, municipally-owned corporation, NGO, not-for-profit organization, research institute such as a university).
• If the lead applicant is not a municipal government, the project must be delivered in partnership with a Canadian municipal government (with evidence of municipal support).
• An Indigenous community may apply as the lead applicant if partnering with a Canadian municipal government on an eligible project, or if it has a shared service agreement with a Canadian municipal government related to municipal infrastructure, climate change or adaptation.
• The project must be a capital project to construct, commission and begin operation of an organic waste-to-energy system, and it must build on a completed feasibility study assessing technical and financial feasibility and environmental, social and economic impacts.
• The project must generate energy from landfill gas use/upgrading, anaerobic digestion of local organic waste, or energy recovery from composting, wastewater or landfill (geothermal), and it must deliver a net greenhouse gas emissions reduction and a net energy benefit compared to the current baseline.

Who is eligible?

• Canadian municipal governments (e.g., towns, cities, regions, districts and local boards)
• Private sector entities (as municipal partners)
• Municipally-owned corporations
• Regional, provincial or territorial organizations delivering municipal services
• Non-governmental organizations, not-for-profit organizations and research institutes (e.g., universities) (as municipal partners)

Who is not eligible

• Organizations that are not Canadian municipal governments and are not applying in partnership with a Canadian municipal government.
• Energy generation projects designed to power multiple buildings through district energy systems (these may be eligible under GMF’s Community Energy Systems offer instead).
• Projects involving combustion of waste (high oxygen systems).
• Projects relying on feedstocks that would otherwise be recycled or reused to generate higher-value end products.
• Agricultural or forestry biomass producers where biomass is grown or harvested specifically for the purpose of producing energy.

Eligible expenses

• Costs to prepare the GMF application (including completing the Project Workbook) incurred up to 90 days before the full application is received (up to $5,000).
• Costs for required assessments relevant to the GMF application completed within 90 days before the full application is received (up to $25,000).
• Project-specific administrative costs incurred after the application is received (e.g., project-required permits/certifications, outside printing/photocopying, project-only document acquisition, document translation, project-related communications).
• Project-essential advertising and public communication/evaluation costs (e.g., website development, media distribution, public surveys, advertising development fees).
• Third-party financial audit costs for the capital project, if required by FCM; and third-party environmental audit costs for the triple bottom line results report.
• Capital costs (e.g., acquiring/developing/constructing/modernizing/leasing systems such as equipment, hardware, software; construction/renovation/modernization materials and installation costs).
• Equipment and tool rental directly related to the project.
• Costs for meetings and public gatherings to communicate the project and collect feedback (e.g., facility and audiovisual rentals; accessibility supports such as interpretation, shuttle service, babysitting; food/drinks only when part of a specific cultural protocol; honoraria and costs for local cultural protocols where applicable).
• Professional and technical consultant/contractor fees.
• Transportation, shipping and courier costs essential to delivering project materials/services.
• Necessary travel and accommodation for the applicant and its consultants (within Treasury Board of Canada guidelines), including travel for FCM-led capacity-building activities related to the project (up to $10,000 or 10% of eligible costs, whichever is lower).
• Non-rebatable portion of applicable taxes.
• Staff remuneration for time actually worked on project implementation (direct salaries and certain eligible benefits, prorated as applicable).

Eligible geographic areas

• Canada (Canadian municipal governments).

• Greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction impact — 45% (capital projects).
• Environmental multi-solving benefits — 24% total (capital projects): sustainable materials management (12%) and biodiversity & ecological benefits (12%).
• Other benefits — 31% total (capital projects): socio-economic benefits (10%), engagement strategy (10%) and financial analysis (11%).
• Implementation requirements (pass/fail) (capital projects): teams and partners, workplan, budget, and risk management.

• Step 1: Confirm eligibility (internal review)
  • Review the eligibility requirements, required outcomes and targets for the “Capital project: Organic Waste-to-Energy” offer on the GMF website.
  • If you have questions about alignment or how to apply, contact GMF by email (gmfinfo@fcm.ca) or phone (1-877-417-0550).
• Step 2: Prepare pre-application package (form + key documents)
  • Complete the pre-application form.
  • Prepare the required supporting documents to attach to the pre-application (as applicable to your situation and project), including municipal support documentation where required.
  • If you are a municipality or municipal corporation from Quebec, ensure the pre-application is submitted and approved by the Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l’Habitation (MAMH).
• Step 3: Submit pre-application (online submission + attachments)
  • Submit the completed pre-application form with all required attachments.
  • Ensure the designated application contact submits the form (consultants cannot sign or submit on behalf of eligible applicants).
• Step 4: Eligibility determination (GMF review)
  • Wait for GMF to review the pre-application and determine whether the organization and initiative can proceed.
  • GMF staff aim to respond within 15 business days from receipt of the pre-application.
• Step 5: Prepare full application package (full form + workbook + supporting documents)
  • Once invited, complete the full application form (pre-application answers will be pre-populated and can be updated).
  • Complete the GMF project workbook provided by your outreach officer or advisor.
  • Organize and attach all required supporting documents for a capital project (as listed in the application guide’s required supporting documents section and appendices).
  • Develop and document key full-application sections as required in the form (e.g., project team, budget/workplan, engagement strategy, climate resilience documentation where applicable, environmental benefits documentation, socio-economic benefits information, and financial analysis).
  • Use GMF guidance to ensure the application is complete and references relevant sections/pages in supporting documents where possible.
• Step 6: Submit full application (online submission + attachments)
  • Submit the full application form, project workbook, and all required supporting documents.
  • Ensure the application contact submits the form (only the application contact can submit; consultants cannot sign or submit).
• Step 7: GMF project officer review (completeness and follow-ups)
  • After submission, a GMF project officer reviews the application for accuracy and completeness.
  • Respond to any GMF requests for clarifications or revisions to strengthen the file before it proceeds.
• Step 8: Peer review and internal review (assessment process)
  • Undergo external expert peer review (capital projects are evaluated by a peer review panel).
  • GMF completes internal analysis to support a funding recommendation.
• Step 9: Funding decision (FCM governance approval)
  • Funding recommendations made by the GMF Council are overseen by FCM’s Board of Directors.
  • For capital projects, the average time for a funding decision is four to six months after submission of the full application form.

• Applications are accepted year-round until annual funds are allocated; if annual funding is fully allocated, new applications are deferred to the following fiscal year beginning April 1.
• For capital projects, the average time for a funding decision is four to six months after submission of the full application form.
• GMF reserves the right to reduce, amend or eliminate funding amounts if projects deviate from the approved scope of work.
• For approved capital projects, the lead applicant must keep invoices, receipts and backup documents for seven years after the final FCM disbursement.