STAR Bin-to-Win Grant Application

The State of Texas Alliance for Recycling (STAR) is excited to announce the launch of the STAR Bin to Win Grant, made possible through a generous $15,000 donation from H-E-B. This grant will support recycling education and infrastructure in Texas schools, helping students and educators acquire recycling bins, improve access to material collection, or enhance their education materials and initiatives to improve their recycling program. 

The program will award between 6 and 10 grants of  $1,500 to $2,500 each to schools across Texas. The purpose of this grant is to help schools start, expand, or enhance recycling programs that foster environmental stewardship, reduce waste, and build student engagement in sustainability. We will select at least one school for each Texas region identified by STAR.  

To properly track program success, STAR will provide grantees with a reporting template. The organization can also provide a scale and support throughout program implementation to ensure impact is properly measured.

Made possible by H-E-B
H‑E‑B’s sponsorship aligns with the company’s Our Texas, Our Future promise and falls within the H‑E‑B Recycling for Texans program. Through Our Texas, Our Future, H‑E‑B has committed to conserving and protecting Texas land, air, and water. The Recycling for Texans program is an important part of making that commitment tangible.

Recycling for Texans cultivates cleaner, greener communities by educating Texans on what can or can’t be recycled, expanding access to recycling, inspiring future generations to make recycling a lifelong habit, and taking direct action to clean up litter across our state.

We extend our sincere gratitude to H-E-B for their commitment to building a more sustainable Texas. Their generous support makes this grant program possible and empowers schools across the state to reduce waste, foster student leadership, and strengthen recycling efforts in their communities. 

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be a school located in Texas (public and public charter are all eligible), or be an individual that works within a school authority.
• Design and manage a program for the following materials: cardboard, paper, plastic containers (PET, HDPE, Polypropylene), film plastics, and/or aluminum cans.
• Have signed administrative approval to implement or expand a recycling program.
• Have a designated Recycling Program Coordinator (teacher, staff member, or administrator) who will be responsible for overseeing implementation and reporting.
• Have a clear pathway to recycle the collected material.
• Be able to implement the project during the Spring 2027 semester.

Funding Details

• Total available funding: $15,000
• Number of awards: 6-10 (at least one per region)
• Grant amount per school: $1,500 to $2,500

Funds may be used for:

• Recycling bins, carts, or collection infrastructure
• Signage and educational materials
• Training for staff or students
• Outreach and awareness campaigns
• Program expansion (e.g., adding materials to an existing program, building collection partnerships)

This application includes 6 sections:

Section 1: School Information

Section 2: Project Proposal

Section 3: Budget Outline

Section 4: Program Coordinator Info

Section 5: Administrative Approval

Section 6: Certification

IMPORTANT: PLEASE HAVE THE PROGRAM COORDINATOR COMPLETE, SIGN, AND SUBMIT THIS APPLICATION.

To determine your schools region, please consult the STAR Regions map at the following URL: https://recyclingstar.org/star-regions/

Please describe your project, including:

• Current state of recycling efforts at your school (if any).
• Proposed program or project details.
• Anticipated impact (students reached, waste diverted, engagement goals).
• Reporting plan (how do you plan to report on collected material weight).

Please provide a simple breakdown of how the $1,500 - $2,500 grant will be spent. Please reach out to education@recyclingstar.org for assistance completing this section. 

If you have any specific items included in your budget that you'd like to purchase, please use the file upload below to upload a screenshot or image of the item. Otherwise, please list a product URL or specific product name and model number in the Notes of the Budget Outline.

You may also use the File Upload section to provide photos of staging areas such as classrooms, corridors, lunch rooms, etc where bins will be placed or to help illustrate your current infrastructure in need of expansion.