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Circular Colorado Launches Development Center to Boost End Markets for Recycled Commodities
Circular Colorado launches a development center to boost end markets for recycled commodities, aiming to increase recycling rates and promote a circular economy in Colorado.
Circular Colorado, a Denver-based nonprofit organization, has been awarded a contract by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to establish a circular economy development center (CEDC). The center aims to grow end markets for recycled commodities and address the state's low recycling rate, which currently stands at 16% compared to the 2021 goal of 28% diversion. By supporting end market development, Circular Colorado believes that the state can increase demand for recycled materials and move closer to its diversion goal.
According to Laurie Johnson, founder and CEO of Circular Colorado, the effort to create and expand end markets must extend beyond the recycling industry and involve other sectors such as manufacturing and transportation. The organization emphasizes the importance of embracing a circular economy, as it offers solutions to global challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution. By decoupling economic activity from the consumption of finite resources, a circular economy promotes resilience and benefits businesses, people, and the environment.
The CEDC will play a vital role in supporting and expanding existing and new recycling end-market businesses. It aims to increase the value of recycled materials, reduce transportation costs, and ultimately lower greenhouse gas emissions while safeguarding air and water quality. The center is set to launch on July 1 and will be funded through two existing grant programs—the Front Range Waste Diversion (FRWD) program and the Recycling Resources Economic Opportunity (RREO) program.
Circular Colorado's initiative aligns with the broader global movement toward sustainable waste management and circular economy principles. By creating a development center dedicated to growing end markets for recycled commodities, the organization is taking significant strides in promoting a more sustainable and resource-efficient future in Colorado. With the launch of the CEDC, Circular Colorado aims to catalyze collaboration among various industries and drive the transition to a circular economy that maximizes resource utilization and minimizes waste.
As circular economy practices gain traction, initiatives like Circular Colorado's development center are crucial for accelerating the shift toward a more sustainable and regenerative economic model. By actively supporting end market growth and facilitating the development of a robust circular economy ecosystem, Circular Colorado is playing a vital role in transforming waste into valuable resources and advancing sustainability in Colorado's economy.