RREO grant project summaries

Grantee: CHT Resources

Project title: Increasing Diversion of Organic Waste on the Western Slope
Awarded: May 13, 2022
Award amount: $758,220.00
Area of state: Mesa, Delta, Garfield, Montrose, Ouray, and San Miguel counties.
Purpose of the project: To expand and modernize CHT’s Class III compost facility. Grant dollars will be used to purchase composting equipment, including a front-end loader, a feedstock mixing tub, a deck scale, and a scale house building. Grant-funded equipment will allow CHT to increase compost efficiency and capacity on Colorado’s Western Slope.
Purchases: Steel Deck Scale, Feedstock Mixing Tub, Front End Loader, Scale House Building; contractual payments for electrical work.

Grantee: Clean Valley Recycling

Project title: 2022 Clean Valley Infrastructure Enhancement to Increase Resource Diversion Capacity
Awarded: May 13, 2022
Award amount: $49,988.00
Area of state: Baca, Bent, Crowley, Otero, Prowers, and Kiowa counties
Purpose of the project: To increase access to recycling in rural communities in Eastern Colorado. From their central recycling facility in the town of Swink, Clean Valley Recycling serves surrounding communities through a hub and spoke model, providing both curbside and drop-off services throughout the Lower Arkansas Valley. Grant dollars will be used to purchase a forklift, electric pallet jack, and stretch-wrapping machine which will be used to sustain electronics recycling at Clean Valley’s central facility. In addition, grant funds will support the purchase of Ecotrainer recycling bins which will be used to increase cardboard recycling throughout Clean Valley’s service area.
Purchases: Electric Forklift, Electric Pallet Jack, Ecotainer recycling bins, Electric Stretch-Wrapper.

Grantee: Cowgirl Compost

Project title: Cowgirl Compost CO
Awarded: May 13, 2022
Award amount: $110,115.07
Area of state: Moffat and Routt counties
Purpose of the project: To increase access to composting in rural communities in northwestern Colorado. Grant funds will be used to purchase a truck bed with bin lifter and a skid steer to increase processing capacity at Cowgirl Compost’s Hayden location. This grant will allow Cowgirl Compost to expand residential and commercial organics collections and increase organic waste diversion.
Purchases: Six-Yard Truck Bed with Bin Lifter, Compact Track Loader Skid Steer.

Grantee: GreenSheen

Project title: Paint container reuse operation
Awarded: May 13, 2022
Award amount: $143,166.00
Area of state: Denver county
Purpose of the project: To foster the reuse of plastic paint containers. GreenSheen, an established paint recycler that processes paint from every county in Colorado, will implement a paint container washing and water filtration system. Grant funds will purchase a stationary enclosed trailer to house a washing operation system. The washing system will use a hot water pressure washer to strip paint and labeling from used plastic paint containers. The trailer will feature a washwater catchment basin and captured washwater will be filtered through the pumping and filtration system for reuse while residual paint material will be separated for reuse.
Purchases: Hot Water Pressure Washer, On-Board Winterization Kit, Water Filter, Fabric Media Filter Paper, Pumping and Filtration System, Vertical Fresh Water Storage Tank, Enclosed Trailer; contractual payments for fabrication and electrical work.

Grantee: Kiowa county

Project title: Kiowa county Recycling Improvement
Awarded: May 13, 2022
Award amount: $98,212.00
Area of state: Kiowa county
Purpose of the project: To increase recycling and waste tire diversion in Kiowa county. Grant funds will be used to purchase a roll-off trailer and roll-off recycling bins. The recycling bins will be placed throughout Kiowa county to allow for easier pick up and transit of recyclables. In addition, grant funds will be used for waste tire shredding at Kiowa county’s Eads Landfill. The tire shredding will save a considerable amount of space in the landfill.
Purchases: Roll-Off Trailer, roll-off recycling bins; contractual payments for tire shredding.

Grantee: Montezuma county Landfill

Project title: Montezuma county Landfill Compost Project
Awarded: May 13, 2022
Award amount: $400,000.00
Area of state: Montezuma county
Purpose of the project: To increase organics diversion and composting access in communities in Southwest Colorado. Grant funds will be used to purchase a windrow turner, which will allow the Montezuma county landfill to increase the efficiency and capacity at the landfill’s existing composting operation.
Purchases: Windrow Turner.

Grantee: Ska Brewing Co

Project title: Skampost-Ska Brewing Organic Waste Diversion and Compost
Awarded: May 13, 2022
Award amount: $202,000.30
Area of state: La Plata county
Purpose of the project: To increase organic waste diversion in Southwest Colorado through composting beer waste. Grant funds supported the construction of a silo storage system at Ska Brewing’s brewery and a tanker truck. This equipment will be used to divert spent grain, hops, and yeast from the brewery to Table to Farm’s Class III compost facility. The finished compost will be mixed with locally recycled carbon sources to make the end product “Skampost” which can be used as a soil amendment by local gardeners, farmers, and landscapers.
Purchases: Grain Silo System, Tanker Truck; contractual payments for structural engineering, construction, crane installation, and welding.

Grantee: Table to Farm Compost

Project title: Community-Based Social Marketing Compost Pilot and Broader Scale
Implementation Plan for Table to Farm Compost
Awarded: May 13, 2022
Award amount: $119,000.00
Area of state: La Plata county
Purpose of the project: To increase organic waste collection in Southwest Colorado through community-based social marketing and outreach. This grant will fund marketing and education efforts along with a three-month compost pick-up pilot program for 500 household subscribers. This community-based social marketing plan will support the City of Durango’s plan to achieve citywide compost collection, and it will support increased organic diversion at Table to Farm’s Class III compost facility.
Purchases: Contractual payments for marketing and education/outreach; contractual payments for compost collectional; staff salary for marketing director.

Grantee: Tires to Green Recycling

Project title: Waste Tire Recycling – Removing Tires from the Waste Stream Through
Increased Recycling Into Crumb Rubber
Awarded: May 13, 2022
Award amount: $164,396.00
Area of state: Weld county
Purpose of the project: To increase waste tire diversion in Northern Colorado through the conversion of scrap tires into crumb rubber. Grant funds will be used to purchase drum separators and a general-purpose screener capable of producing multiple crumb granule sizes. This equipment will improve the efficiency of Tires to Green’s existing tire-recycling facility, and help build capacity to tackle Colorado’s waste tire monofills.
Purchases: Rotex General Purpose Screener, Self-Cleaning Rare Earth Drum Separators.

Grantee: Town of Breckenridge

Project title: Improving Recycling Diversion Rates at Public Facing Receptacles
Awarded: August 8, 2022
Award amount: $167,600.00
Area of state: Summit county
Purpose of the project: To increase recycling access at public-facing receptacles in the town Town of Breckenridge. Grant funds will be used to purchase animal-resistant trash and recycling containers to replace and expand the current trash receptacles in Breckenridge. These receptacles will be placed in high foot-traffic areas in the Town of Breckenridge’s central corridor, promoting recycling awareness and increasing recycling rates.
Purchases: Animal-Resistant Trash/Recycle Containers.

Direct Polymers

FY 20-21, Post-Consumer Recycling Plastics Processing and Compounding Expansion in Colorado

Award Amount: $981,419
Area of State: Denver Metro
Purpose of the project: To expand post-consumer recycled plastic (PCR) processing at Direct Polymers’ Denver facility. Grant funds supported the expansion of sorting, shredding, grinding, decontaminating, washing, drying, extruding, and blending PCR materials into custom pelletized composites to be reused in Colorado or shipped to other parts of the country. Additionally, this project further supported Colorado markets by limiting reliance on foreign sources of PCR. Over time, the project will create a minimum of twelve full-time positions. Grant-funded equipment was purchased and delivered in two phases over fiscal years 2020 and 2021. All equipment will be installed and functioning no later than June 30, 2021.
Purchases: friction washer, used plasticycler system, wet grinder, grinder control unit, sink-float tank, platform, dryer, shredder, conveyors, rotary and fly knives, nuts and bolts for wet grind line, ferrous/non-ferrous metal separation, aspirator, cutters, wash line/water treatment, compounding line, air compressor, utility augers, ferrous/non-ferrous metal detection plate, metal for material discharge stand, ducting and clamps for air classification system, sterling blower for pneumatic material transport, and incline conveyor belt.

Earth Enterprises

FY 20, Expanded Scrap Plastic Pellet Manufacturing

Award Amount: $235,305
Area of State: Located in Weld County, Front Range (with statewide benefits)
Purpose of the project: To support the expansion of end markets by production capacity, which relies upon recycled scrap plastic materials as feedstock for manufacturing of pellets. The pellets will be used for any product using plastic feedstock, including colored films, plastic bags, pipe, plastic decking, plastic furniture, buckets, and receptacle units. This expansion increased the conversion of scrap plastic into high-grade pellets for end markets, keeping these materials out of Colorado landfills. By generating pellets for in-state customers who are currently importing feedstock from other states, emissions will be reduced, thus improving air quality for all Coloradans.
Purchases: Metal detection conveyor, chiller, water tower system, spin dryer, and air compressor.

Estes Park High School

FY 20, Estes Park High School Closed-Loop Plastic Waste Diversion Project

Award Amount: $11,763
Area of State: Larimer County, Front Range
Purpose of the project: To create a closed-loop system within Estes Park High School to generate high-quality 3D printer filament from recycled plastic. This project is student-driven, combining waste diversion with educational benefits. Grant funds supported the purchase of supplies for the collection of recycled plastic, along with equipment to clean, shred, dry, and extrude the collected plastic. Estes Park High School students also publicized the project online in an effort to sell products generated.
Purchases: Dryer, shredder, extruder, 3D printer, spools, laundry tub, bottle-cleaning brush set, drying rack, collapsible cart, and recycling bin.

Montezuma County Landfill

FY 21, Composting Operations

Award Amount: $127,500
Area of State: Montezuma County, Rural
Purpose of the project: To implement expanded composting production at the county’s landfill. The resulting compost is sold to local residents for use in gardens and landscaping. This grant supported the purchase of a screening machine for processing compostable yard waste and broadening the program to include compostable food waste at the Montezuma County Landfill. The use of the screening machine also results in an increase in waste diversion at the Montezuma County Landfill. The facility is anticipated to create one new full-time equivalent position with one additional part-time employee in the next five years. The positions will pay wages above the living wage and will create jobs for rural Colorado.
Purchases: Screening trommel.

Rubberosion

FY 20-21, Closed-Loop, Full-Scale Production of High-Value Waste-Tire-Derived Products via Compression Molding and Coloring

Award Amount: $410,705
Area of State: Weld County, Front Range
Purpose of the project: To support increased production capacity, creating feedstock for the manufacturing of goods. The expansion allowed for the installation and development of a next-generation rubber molding and granule paint plant that creates molded rubber bricks, blocks, stormwater management products, and eco-vehicle tracking pads. Utilizing recycled crumb rubber diverts it from the tire monofill in Hudson, Colorado, which is slated to close in 2024. A 150-ton hydraulic press and rubber granule paint plant will be installed to increase production. This project will support five full-time equipment operators when fully implemented. The positions created will earn pay well above the living wage definition for Weld County.
Purchases: 150-ton molding press and materials-moving components, rubber granule paint line equipment, and contractual costs for an electrician.

Table to Farm

FY 20, Table to Farm Compost: San Juan Artisan Soils

Award Amount: $101,951
Area of State: La Plata County, Rural
Purpose of the project: To increase compost to artisan soil production. The process turns local organic waste into a highly valuable commodity for use in agricultural production – from table to farm to table – creating a closed-loop agricultural system that keeps financial and environmental resources recirculating in Southwest Colorado. This project will support three and a half full-time employees and one part time employee in rural Southwest Colorado when fully implemented.
Purchases: Hopper/mixer, industrial grinder, glass crusher, and contractual payment for soil and compost advisor.

Vartega

FY 20-21, Carbon Fiber and Engineered Plastics Recycling for Advanced Composites Production

Award Amount: $364,000
Area of State: Jefferson County, Front Range
Purpose of the project: To expand engineered plastic recycling capabilities. This project supports the repurposing of nylon and polypropylene found in end-of-life consumer goods, deregistered vehicles, and manufacturing scrap. When these items are combined with carbon fiber, the degradation that typically occurs in recycling is resolved, creating an affordable, high-performing feedstock with a low carbon footprint. Grant dollars funded an agglomerator, shredder, fluid bed dryer, and accompanying air filtration and cooling systems. Vartega plans to add seven full-time positions when the project is fully implemented.
Purchases: Cooling system, air filtration systems, fluidized bed dryer, and contractual payment for an electrician.

City of Cortez

Curbside Residential Recycle Truck Purchase

Award Amount: $70,638
Area of State: Montezuma County, Rural
Purpose of the project: The City of Cortez purchased a new curbside collection truck. The new truck replaced an aging curbside truck that was 26 years old. The key objective was to improve efficiency in service by cutting down route times and to make additional public recycling options available.
Purchases: Recyclables Collection Truck.

EverGreen Zero Waste

Bear-Proof Compost Carts and Dumpsters

Award Amount: $120,000
Area of State: Pitkin County, Rural
Purpose of the project: To purchase bear-proof collection carts and dumpsters, an imperative and expensive necessity for maintaining and growing rural compost collection programs.
Purchases: Various sizes of Bearicuda Bins.

FoodMaven

Lost Food Diversion Program Expansion

Award Amount: $350,001
Area of State: Denver Metro
Purpose of the project: To reduce food waste in Denver and the vicinity by capturing and selling or donating surplus food through the FoodMaven’s established network of buyers and food banks.
Purchases: Transport vehicle, dock scissor lift, temperature moderation equipment, ice machine and bin, standing order picker, hand pallet jacks, electric pallet jack, industrial packing table, spill kits, steel carts with casters, mobile cart, shelving, three-tier sink, steel table, HVAC retrofits, meat grinder, and a patty machine.

Go Green Pallet

Waste Reduction Wood Grinder

Award Amount: $161,675
Area of State: Weld County, Front Range
Purpose of the project: To establish a zero-waste wooden pallet recycling operation by reducing the amount of scrap wood from unusable and non-recyclable pallets sent to the landfill.
Purchases: Grinder, auger, baffled screens, fluid coupling, and a magnetic separator.

San Luis Valley Regional Solid Waste Authority

Bale Twine and Green Waste Recycling Project

Award Amount: $39,010
Area of State: Rio Grande County, Rural
Purpose of the project: To establish new waste diversion programs focused on baling twine and green waste at the San Luis Valley Regional Landfill. Grant funds were used to purchase a skid steer to allow for easier handling and loading of the baling twine and green waste.
Purchases: Skid steer, pallet forks, and grapple forks.

Upcycling Technologies (aka Rewall Company)

Creating Construction Materials from Food and Beverage Cartons

Award Amount: $1,545,820
Area of State: Denver, Front Range
Purpose of the project: This project was not completed due to transfer of ownership and change of project plans.
Purchases: N/A.

Western State Colorado University

Rocketing Sustainability in Gunnison County

Award Amount: $139,690
Area of State: Gunnison County, Rural
Purpose of the project: To establish a composting program on the campus of Western State Colorado University. Grants funds were used to purchase a self-contained composting unit, as well as to redesign the outdoor area where the composting unit was installed. This showcase project serves as an educational tool for both students and community members, introducing them to the concept of composting.
Purchases: Compost unit, roofing structures, storage bins, compost sifter, weight scale, heat tape, shipping container, loading dock signage, posters/educational material, and the contractual cost of building the composting site.

City and County of Denver

City and County of Denver Municipal Study

Award Amount: $250,000
Area of State: Denver Metro
Purpose of the project: To revise and update the City and County of Denver’s Solid Waste Master Plan. This study consisted of an extensive stakeholder process and a robust waste characterization focused on three sectors: the commercial sector, multi-family units, and construction and demolition projects. Additionally, an analysis of best management practices to optimize waste recovery in each of these three sectors, as well as the single-family residential sector, was included in the Solid Waste Master Plan update.
Purchases: Contractual payments.

Summit County

Summit County Regional Study

Award Amount: $49,934
Area of State: Summit County, rural
Purpose of the project: To determine the success of existing waste diversion programs and to inform future waste diversion programs in Summit County. In order to meet Summit County’s goal to double waste diversion from 20% in 2018 to 40% by 2035, data on waste generation trends was needed to inform the design of future programs and policies. A regional study was completed that examined solid waste composition, identified gaps in materials management infrastructure, and sought input from stakeholders within the study area. Ultimately, the results of the study identified the infrastructure needed to support existing and future waste diversion in Summit County.
Purchases: Waste audit supplies, travel expenses for contractors, and contractual payments.

Adams State University

Adams State Recycling and Education Initiative

Award Amount: $17,347
Area of State: Alamosa County, Rural
Purpose of the project: To expand the recycling program at Adams State University. Grant funds were used to purchase recycling stations for every building on campus. Grant funds were also used to purchase reusable bags, establishing recycling stations in each dorm room. This project supported the University’s goal of creating a strong recycling campus culture.
Purchases: Recycling stations and reusable bags.

City of Durango

City of Durango Recycling Outreach

Award Amount: $23,377
Area of State: La Plata County, Rural
Purpose of the project: To increase participation and reduce contamination within the City of Durango’s curbside recycling program. A variety of outreach strategies was implemented to raise community awareness and encourage residents to sign up for collection reminders via the City’s web application.
Purchases: Recycling truck billboards and other forms of outreach.

City of Fort Collins

Improvements to Timberline Recycling Center Infrastructure

Award Amount: $23,689
Area of State: Larimer County, Front Range
Purpose of the project: To improve operational efficiencies and better accommodate users at the Timberline Recycling Center in the City of Fort Collins. Grant funds purchased a new cardboard compactor.
Purchases: Cardboard Compactor.

City of Northglenn

Northglenn Recycles – City Events and Residential Outreach

Award Amount: $19,986
Area of State: Adams County, Front Range
Purpose of the project: To increase the recycling rate in the City of Northglenn. Funds were used to make recycling more visible and convenient at community events through the purchase of recycling bins and a roll-off container. An outreach campaign was also funded that focused on the City’s residential curbside recycling customers. An estimated 38,000 residents benefit from this project annually, and an additional 150 tons of waste is diverted from Colorado landfills each year.
Purchases: Recycling Bins, outreach materials, and a roll-off container.

Clean Valley Recycling

Clean Valley Recycling Forklift upgrade

Award Amount: $17,240
Area of State: Otero County, Rural<
Purpose of the project: To increase operational efficiencies at the recycling center serving Otero, Bent, and Crowley Counties and their surrounding communities. The equipment purchased with grant dollars replaced a 29-year-old forklift. Repairs had become frequent and costly, and the value of the forklift has greatly diminished.
Purchases: Forklift.

Colorado School of Mines

Recycling Campaign

Award Amount: $24,976
Area of State: Jefferson County, Front Range
Purpose of the project: To expand recycling program access and awareness on the Colorado School of Mines campus through the installation of recycling stations and the launch of a nitrile glove recycling program in the university’s labs. Additionally, grant funds were used to inform students about the campus recycling program at campus events.
Purchases: Nitrile glove collection boxes, recycling stations, and outreach materials.

Crested Butte Mountain Resort

On-Mountain Composting Development Program

Award Amount: $13,598
Area of State: Gunnison County, Rural
Purpose of the project: To increase capacity for an existing composting program located at the Crested Butte Mountain Resort. Funding supported the purchase of two composting systems and a protective shed. The resulting mulch serves as a nutrient-rich topsoil to be used for landscaping purposes. This project diverts an additional four tons of food waste from the landfill and benefits 50,000 individuals annually.
Purchases: Shed and composting units.

Discover Goodwill

Western Slope Recycled Product Warehouse

Award Amount: $25,000
Area of State: Mesa and El Pasto Counties, Urban/Front Range
Purpose of the project: To increase storage space at the Grand Junction/Mesa County facility. Funds were used to purchase a storage building to house recycled/reused products awaiting transport to the organization’s hub in Colorado Springs. This project supports an additional 200 tons of materials annually and benefits approximately 61,000 individuals.
Purchases: Storage building.

Douglas County School District

Diverting Waste Through Recycling and Education in Douglas County Public Schools

Award Amount: $22,474
Area of State: Douglas County, Front Range
Purpose of the project: To expand recycling access to a number of schools within the Douglas County School District. Grants funds were used to purchase recycling bins for both classrooms and lunchrooms. Schools within the district were given recycling bins based on their ability to commit to creating a culture of recycling among students, staff, and teachers and on their ability to measure improvement in recycling rates.
Purchases: Recycling bins.

Eco-Cycle

Environment, Education, Employment: Expanding Zero Waste Events across the Front Range

Award Amount: $7,900
Area of State: Various Counties, Rural and Front Range
Purpose of the project: To increase the frequency of zero waste events and improve public understanding of recycling and composting in Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Gilpin, Jefferson, and Weld Counties. Grant funds were used to purchase zero waste stations for indoor and outdoor events, as well as integrated signage. An estimated 325,000 individuals benefit from person-to-person contact at zero waste events annually and a total of 34 tons of waste is diverted from Colorado landfills each year. This project also supported the addition of 1 FTE, 1 PTE, and four seasonal employees.
Purchases: PVC pipe, spring link, and bungee cords; signage: topper, mesh banner, and large feather banner.

Lake County

Lake County Public Works

Award Amount: $23,300
Area of State: Lake County, Rural
Purpose of the project: To expand cardboard recycling in Lake County and reduce the amount of non-recyclable materials found in the recycling stream. The project also bolsters the public’s understanding of recycling in Lake County. Grant funds were used to purchase roll-off containers and associated signage and to launch an outreach campaign.
Purchases: Two roll-offs, outreach materials, and signage.

Monument Waste

Telehandler for Single Stream Transload Facility

Award Amount: $25,000
Area of State: Mesa County, Urban
Purpose of the project: To increase diversion rates and improve recycling productivity in Grand Junction. The grant-funded equipment diverts an additional 200 tons of waste from the Mesa County Landfill annually and supports one full-time employee position.
Purchases: Bobcat Telehandler.

National Center for Craftsmanship

NCC DeConstruct Equipment

Award Amount: $25,000
Area of State: Larimer, Denver, Weld, and Routt Counties, Front Range and Rural
Purpose of the project: To provide safe and self-reliant transport of recycled materials in Larimer, Denver, Weld, and Routt counties. The grant-funded pickup truck replaced volunteer/personal vehicle use and supports educational outreach efforts. This project also supports the creation of one and a half full-time employee positions and diverts an additional 500 tons of waste from Colorado landfills annually.
Purchases: Pick-up truck.

Our Community Foundation

Eagle River Valley Food Bank Recovery Project

Award Amount: $23,517
Area of State: Eagle County, Rural
Purpose of the project: To support food rescue activities in Eagle County, ultimately keeping wasted food from going into the landfill. Grant funds purchased a walk-in cooler/freezer to store perishable items.
Purchases: Walk-in cooler/freezer unit, installation labor, and three-tier wood crate.

PCs for People

Recycling Warehouse Capacity and Efficiency

Award Amount: $5,247
Area of State: Denver Metro
Purpose of the project: To increase diversion of electronic waste from Colorado landfills. Grant funds purchased equipment and supplies to refurbish or deconstruct computers. The project supports a part-time employee position and will recycle and refurbish an additional 18 tons of e-waste annually.
Purchases: Hard drive wiper parts, racking bay supplies, drill sets, repair toolkits, air compressor kit, and packing boxes.

Poudre School District

Compost Too Good to Waste

Award Amount: $5,000
Area of State: Larimer County, Front Range
Purpose of the project: To establish a sustainable composting program at Wellington Middle School in the Poudre School District. The school purchased an in-vessel aerobic compost unit and grant funds were used to purchase supplies and signage. Additionally, a marketing campaign was developed and implemented to maximize participation in the compost program and minimize contamination.
Purchases: Bins, liners, labels, and outreach materials.

Recycle Colorado

Materials Synergy Platform

Award Amount: $8,700
Area of State: Statewide
Purpose of the project: To facilitate the diversion, recovery, repurposing, and remanufacturing of materials that would otherwise be destined for the landfill via an online waste exchange platform.
Purchases: Contract service content developer, online waste exchange platform, training supplies, and outreach materials.

Spring Back

Expanding Service Opportunity and Building Mattress Recycling Capacity

Award Amount: $25,000
Area of State: Denver Metro
Purpose of the project: To expand a box spring mattress recycling program in Colorado. Grant funds purchased a box truck to support mattress collections in the Denver Metro area. This project supports three full-time employee positions and diverts an additional 56 tons, equivalent to 1,704 mattresses, from Colorado landfills annually.
Purchases: Box truck.

Town of Breckenridge

Smart Technology Pilot Project

Award Amount: $25,000
Area of State: Summit County, Rural
Purpose of the project: To increase recycling in the Town of Breckenridge through a pilot program to install cloud-connected dual-stream smart compactor cans. Grant funds were used to purchase cans that operate and transmit real-time data via off-grid solar power. In addition to the pilot program, the funding supported an outreach plan to change the behavior of visitors and businesses regarding disposable coffee cups that contaminate recyclables.
Purchases: Double station smart compactor cans, liner bags, and an outreach campaign.

Town of Ophir

Town of Ophir Compost Program

Award Amount: $14,073
Area of State: San Miguel County, Rural
Purpose of the project: To double composting capacity for the community. Building on a previous grant, two additional composting units were installed in an existing enclosure. These composting units are available to all Town of Ophir residents. Additionally, funding purchased lumber to expand an existing enclosure.
Purchases: Two composting units, shredder, lumber.

Town of Springfield

Expanding Recycling in Springfield, Colorado by Increasing Bins for Recycle Collection

Award Amount: $11,420
Area of State: Baca County, Rural
Purpose of the project: To expand access to recycling in the Town of Springfield. Grant funds were used to purchase recycling bins that are available to the public to recycle a variety of materials both at the landfill and within the city limits.
Purchases: Recycling bins.

Town of Vail

Residential Roll-Cart Exchange Program

Award Amount: $5,022
Area of State: Eagle County, Rural
Purpose of the project: To protect wildlife, reduce litter, and improve the Town of Vail’s curbside recycling program. Grant funds were used to purchase wildlife-resistant 32-gallon trash carts to replace older, larger carts. Funding also supported the development and distribution of outreach materials to promote the recycling and composting program.
Purchases: Wildlife resistant trash carts, and outreach materials.

University of Colorado, Colorado Springs

Increasing Clean Commodities while Engaging Campus Community

Award Amount: $22,295
Area of State: El Paso County, Front Range
Purpose of the project: To increase cardboard recycling rates at the University of Colorado’s Colorado Springs campus. The project supports a part-time student work position. An estimated 10,000 students benefit from the project and an additional 12 tons of waste is diverted from Colorado landfills annually.
Purchases: Electric collection vehicle.

Vartega

Thermoplastic Regrinding System for Recycling Applications in Manufacturing Material Advancements

Award Amount: $25,000
Area of State: Jefferson County, Front Range
Purpose of the project: To expand thermoplastics processing for reuse and recycling. Grant funds were used to fund the purchase of a rotary cutter and a complementary air filtration system to capture nuisance dust. This project supports one full-time employee position and is estimated to divert 500 tons of waste from Colorado landfills each year.
Purchases: Rotary cutter and air filtration system.

Walking Mountains

The Zero Waste Program at Walking Mountains Science Center

Award Amount: $5,270
Area of State: Eagle County, Rural
Purpose of the project: To increase the prevalence of zero waste events in Eagle County, as well as to improve the public’s understanding of recycling. Grant funds were used to purchase zero waste station supplies needed to implement zero waste events.
Purchases: Tents, bins, compostable liners, sandbags, sand, scale, sorting gloves, and signage.

Year One-Mile High Youth

Mile High Youth Corps’ Energy & Water Conservation Program

Award Amount: $14,978
Area of State: Denver Metro Purpose of the project: To divert the porcelain fragments of recycled toilets from Colorado landfills. Inefficient toilets taken from clients’ homes are recycled free of charge to program participants. Grant funds paid for personal protective equipment for workers uninstalling the toilets and for the implementation of an education and outreach campaign to raise awareness on the importance of saving water and energy among the clientele.
Purchases: Personal protective equipment, sorting bin, tablets and protective cases, outreach materials, and contractual work of a graphic designer.

Yampa Valley Sustainability Council

Yampa Valley Recycles

Award Amount: $19,961
Area of State: Routt County, Rural Purpose of the project: To educate Routt County residents and visitors on items that can be diverted from the landfill. The centerpiece of this education campaign is the implementation of an internet-based recycling guide. Grant funds were used to create a recycling guide and waste sorting game within the internet-based application. A marketing campaign was also launched to inform the community that this resource is available to them.
Purchases: Two iPads and keyboards, software development design, branding campaign, and an outreach campaign.