In alignment with the CEDC’s mission to develop circular economies within Colorado, support local economies, and keep materials circulating at their highest value, the CEDC recently launched the Circular Transportation Network (CTN). The CTN is a collaboration between the CEDC, Front Range Transload, and B. Kirkland Trucking made possible by a grant from the Colorado Circular Communities Enterprise Fund.

Recyclable materials and some hard-to-recycle materials like plastic film and down are collected from rural and mountain communities and businesses in Colorado that wouldn't be able to have them picked up otherwise. In January, the CTN picked up its first loads of materials from partners in Crested Butte and Steamboat Springs.

“We’ve been busy putting all of the pieces in place and spreading the word to communities and businesses in rural and mountainous regions of the state; it’s exciting to now launch this phase of the project and to have trucks on the road,” said Susan Renaud, director of special projects for the CEDC.

Collected materials are brought to the Front Range Transload facility in Pueblo where they are aggregated, baled and sent by truck or rail to processors and manufacturers that use recycled materials to make new products.

Learn more about CTN