Applications accepted on a rolling basis

CDOT launched a microgrant (<$5k) program to support statewide work-from-home efforts and nonprofit organizations are eligible.

Applications accepted on a rolling basis

OEDIT has opened up applications for a new Opportunity Zone program that provides free consulting services to 10 businesses to help them secure OZ business investment.

Deadline: August 7 and September 11, 2020

The Nonprofit Emergency Relief Fund (NPERF) will provide one-time grant assistance up to a maximum of $15,000 per grantee to eligible Denver nonprofit organizations to alleviate financial impacts resulting from COVID-19. We’re anticipating three rounds of funding from June through December 2020.

We all know that recycling and composting in Colorado has been lagging behind the national average. Our state waste diversion goals are coming up quickly, with the first benchmark in 2021 of 32% for the Front Range and 28% statewide. Increasing organics recycling through composting is critical to reaching our goals.

Seven of Colorado’s 10 largest cities in the Front Range don’t provide curbside recycling to all residents. Front Range communities, which recycle and compost only 18% of their residential waste, have a long way to go to get to 32% by 2021 as outlined in Colorado’s materials management plan.

Deadline: August 10, 2020

The first Request for Applications under the Front Range Waste Diversion (FRWD) enterprise and grant program is now available: RFA #31245: Advancing Front Range Communities Up The “Zero Waste Ladder.” An updated RFA #31245 (version 2), which clarifies that the 50% match for equipment/infrastructure is required for haulers or landfill owners or operators only, was posted July 24.

Forty percent of food produced in the United States is never eaten, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council. That is enough to feed 164 million Americans their full, varied diet every day of the year. Wasted food is the single largest item going into our landfills. 

Proposals accepted on an on-going basis

The purpose of the Polypropylene Recycling Grant Program is to facilitate Material Recovery Facility (MRF) processing, sortation and marketing of polypropylene packaging to ensure the widest possible access to polypropylene recycling in community recycling collection programs in the United States.

Colorado’s first recycling grant program, the Recycling Resources Economic Opportunity Program, has awarded almost $25 million to entities developing recycling infrastructure in the state since 2007. The potential upheaval in global markets presents an opportunity for the U.S. and Colorado recyclers to improve their materials quality and to create local markets that will boost our local economies. Colorado’s newest grant program, the Front Range Waste Diversion Program, will offer approximately $2.5 million for waste diversion projects in its first grant cycle this year.

Measure helps Colorado attract recycling businesses, investors and entrepreneurs, create local jobs

As we continue to face a global pandemic, the Colorado legislature took a bold measure and passed legislation to boost recycling in the state and create local jobs. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, manufacturers have been demanding more recycled feedstock and they need more of it sourced nationally and locally. Colorado is currently a small contributor to the recycling economy--only recycling and composting 17% of its municipal solid waste (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, 2018)--less than half the national average of 35%. This bill seeks to change that.

Have you ever wondered what messaging best motivates people to recycle?

Circular economies are in the spotlight following the shockwaves of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the tilt in security, travel and transportation, and business operations, the focus is on how we fortify and better use our own resources. As we work to more sustainably manage finite resources and decrease pollution in our shrinking space, there is an opportunity to create economic growth through end-market development. A circular system for materials will create new jobs, enhance infrastructure and technology, as well as meet international sustainability initiatives.

Recycle Colorado completed a six-month free recycling pilot for eight downtown Denver apartment buildings in May 2020. The goals of the pilot were to assess how much material could be captured by adding single-stream recycling and to understand the barriers to implementing and managing recycling services for apartments. Increasing access to recycling for multi-family complexes could contribute significantly to Denver’s goal of 50 percent waste diversion by 2030. The City’s Solid Waste Management Division estimates that approximately one-third of the city’s population live in multi-family complexes that are not eligible for city recycling collection services.

Senate Bill 20-055 heads to the governor’s desk for signature

Each year Recycle Colorado seeks nominations for our annual Recycling Awards. These prestigious awards recognize governmental entities, individuals, companies, organization and media for their excellence in recycling or promotion of recycling.

Student winners of statewide poster contest announced

Art is alive and well in the hands of Colorado students. Today, Recycle Colorado’s 13th annual poster contest winners were announced. Every year, students in kindergarten through 12th grade have fun showcasing their artistic talent in the spirit of their commitment to recycling. More than 20 schools participated in the contest. The posters were grouped into five grade categories, and a first- and second-place winner were awarded in each category.

Interested in pursuing a career in sustainable materials management?

Recycle Colorado is seeking candidates for its Future Leaders Program. This scholarship provides funds for college students to attend the 2020 Summit for Recycling virtual conference.

The Colorado Composting Council is excited to announce its social media launch on Facebook! The Facebook Page launches April 20, 2020 to mark the start of Earth Week, followed by a celebration of the International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW) May 3 – 9, 2020.

Recycle Colorado is pleased to announce the appointment of Kristin Kim Haynes as its new executive director, effective April 13, 2020.

Deadline: Spring 2021

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment requests applications from entities wishing to claim a rebate from the Recycling Resources Economic Opportunity (RREO) program. More information about the rebate program, as well as the application, can be found on the CDPHE website.