The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has opened two requests for applications intended to support recycling and waste diversion in the state.
The first RFP, “Building Opportunities to Maximize Waste Diversion and Create Jobs in Colorado,” will consider projects that create new opportunities to increase waste diversion and create jobs in Colorado. Possible uses for the grant include installing additional sorting equipment, such as an optical sorter, at an existing materials recovery facility, with the intention of reducing contamination and improving bale quality; installing equipment to create a safer and more efficient operation, such as transitioning from a vertical baler to a horizontal baler; expanding end markets for recycled products and material reuse in Colorado; and educating the public, CDPHE says. Applicants must request at least $25,000 to be eligible. March 1 is the deadline.
The second RFP, “Advancing Construction & Demolition Waste Diversion and Reduction on the Front Range,” will provide grants and technical assistance to Front Range community efforts to advance sustainable construction and demolition waste diversion and to develop end markets for recovered C&D material. Specifically, CDPHE is looking to support infrastructure development methods of landfill diversion, such as through manual or mechanical separation processes; market development opportunities for difficult-to-recycle C&D materials, such as reclaimed asphalt shingles, carpet tiles, and construction plastics; or local policy development and implementation. Applications are due March 15 and should be for at least $25,000—and not more than $700,000—CDPHE says.
Both opportunities are available to for-profit recyclers as well as public entities, and both rounds of funding, if awarded, would be for projects beginning in summer 2021. Interested potential applicants may submit questions in one of multiple Q&A rounds CDPHE will provide over the next month before submitting an application. CDPHE will post written answers on the grant program webpages in response.
