(DENVER, COLORADO) – Circular Colorado was recently awarded a contract by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to create and administer a circular economy development center (CEDC) and grow end markets for recycled commodities in Colorado. The state’s recycling rate has stalled at about 16%, well below the state’s 2021 goal of 28% diversion. By supporting end market development, the state has the potential to increase regional demand for materials, moving Colorado closer to its diversion goals.
“The work of increasing and creating end markets must move beyond the recycling industry to embrace the industries of manufacturing, transportation, and other sectors that all play a role in circular economy creation,” said Laurie Johnson, founder and CEO of Circular Colorado.
According to the Ellen Macarthur Foundation, a circular economy tackles climate change and other global challenges like biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution, by decoupling economic activity from the consumption of finite resources. It is a resilient system that is good for business, people, and the environment.
In addition to supporting and expanding existing and new recycling end-market businesses, the CEDC will help increase the value of recycled materials, decrease transportation costs, and ultimately reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect air and water quality. The center will launch July 1 and is funded through two existing grant programs, the Front Range Waste Diversion (FRWD) program and the Recycling Resources Economic Opportunity (RREO) program.
Circular Colorado develops circular economy solutions by advancing the collection of waste materials and expanding end markets in Colorado.