1

Colorado Circular Communities Enterprise (C3)

#FFFFFF

About C3 | C3 Board of Directors | Grants | Technical Assistance Service Provider Program | Mailing List

About C3

On May 8, 2024, HB24-1449 established the Colorado Circular Communities Enterprise (C3). As a result of this legislation, communities throughout Colorado will benefit from a single statewide program that employs a circularity framework for reducing and averting waste. The new C3 enterprise replaced the Recycling Resources Economic Opportunity (RREO) program and the Front Range Waste Diversion (FRWD) program on July 1, 2024. This new program modernizes pollution prevention, establishes a single board of directors, and will provide greater flexibility for grants, project funding, and technical assistance for all of Colorado.

C3 Board of Directors

CDPHE is currently accepting applications from individuals with appropriate experience for the 13-member C3 Board of Directors. The board is expected to begin convening in the fall of 2024. Membership will consist of:

  • 1 CDPHE member 
  • 12 members representing a balance of for-profit and nonprofit businesses & local governments with these additional considerations:
    • At least 3 members from local governments with one outside of the Front Range.
    • At least 3 waste haulers/landfill operator members.
    • At least 3 members representing communities outside of the Front Range.
    • At least 1 member from an organization working to reduce burdens experienced by disproportionately impacted communities.

If you would like to know more about the board member positions, the C3 Enterprise Board Recruitment Flyer will provide additional information.

Please complete this application if you would like to be considered for a board member position. A fillable application is also available and may be returned to deborah.nelson@state.co.us upon completion. The application will remain open until all positions are filled. 

Grants

All grants previously awarded under the RREO and FRWD programs will continue through this transition.

  • The FRWD program will repeal on July 1, 2025; however, existing and awarded contracts will continue under C3 as of July 1, 2024. For grants awarded under FRWD RFA #SF011224 or FRWD RFA #MC030824, a member of the waste diversion grants team will reach out to you via email once your contract exhibits are ready for review. There may be a slight delay in the execution of recently awarded contracts. We thank you for your patience during this transition.
  • The RREO program will repeal on October 1, 2025, with existing and awarded contracts continuing through September 30, 2025.

There will be no additional requests for applications under the RREO or FRWD programs. The next waste diversion grant opportunity will be available with C3 funding after the new board of directors is established. We anticipate the next grant application to be available in late fall of 2024. To stay informed of program and funding developments, please sign up for the waste diversion grants mailing list at the bottom of this webpage. 

Technical Assistance Service Provider Program

The Technical Assistance Service Provider (TASP) program was originally developed under the Front Range Waste Diversion Program in 2022 and was restricted to communities in the Colorado Front Range. As a result of HB24-1449, the TASP program will be expanded statewide under the C3 program effective July 1, 2024. 

The TASP program assists local governments across Colorado with increasing waste diversion rates and averting waste by implementing sustainable, long term solutions that meet the unique needs of each community. TASP delivers technical assistance to Colorado communities ranging from workshops to multiple-month direct no cost consulting support.

 

Eligibility

Any community located in Colorado is eligible to receive support through TASP. Eligible communities can be towns, cities, and counties (including unincorporated areas). Communities may apply on their own, or multiple towns, cities, and/or counties can work together on a joint project. Public K-12 school districts are also eligible for TASP support.

Private entities and non-profits are not eligible for TASP.

 

Types of Projects Supported

TASP provides communities with a range of technical assistance options. The program meets communities where they are today. Projects will range in size. Smaller projects may take 1 – 2 months to complete and require about 30 hours of consulting support. Complex, large-scale projects may take over a year to complete and require more than 300 hours of consulting.

Examples of the types of projects that TASP can support include, but are not limited to:
  • Waste diversion action plans
  • Recycling drop-off center analysis, design, and planning
  • Organics diversion program design and implementation
  • Policy design and implementation, including hauler licensing
  • Zero waste programming support and regional ‘wasteshed’ planning
  • Contracting and RFP support
  • Education, outreach, and engagement, including stakeholder engagement
  • And many others!
     
The TASP program is funded by the C3 enterprise, and as a result, there is no cost to communities to receive consulting support. TASP does not provide direct capital funding to communities. Communities interested in capital funding should consider applying for C3 grants.

 

Resources

The TASP team has compiled a list of resources to help local governments achieve their waste diversion potential. Visit the TASP Resource Library to learn more.

 

Learn more

Are you interested in learning more about how you can receive no-cost technical assistance for your community? Use the button below to request an initial meeting with a TASP team member. 

  Schedule a TASP meeting

 

Mailing list

Join our email list to stay up-to-date on C3 information: