The Circular Economy Funding Program funds to local groups seeking to advance the Circular Economy and make a real impact on climate change through innovative and progressive projects that enhance resource conservation and foster circularity in Boulder County.
Donor Name: Boulder County
State: Colorado
County: Boulder County (CO), Broomfield County (CO)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 10/18/2024
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
Each year, Boulder County Public Works’ Resource Conservation Division (RCD) distributes $100,000 as part of its Circular Economy Funding Program, which was previously known as Zero Waste Funding.
Funding Categories
There are four (4) categories in which applicants may apply for founding: Household Consumption/Consumer behavior and practices, Collection, Processing, Manufacturing & Design. If you are applying for more than one program, you must submit a separate application with each funding request.
- Household Consumption/Consumer behavior and practices
- Household Consumption/Consumer Behavior and Practices projects must focus on zero waste, source reduction, reuse, recycling, circular economy, closed loop systems, extended producer responsibility, product stewardship and/or composting. Household Consumption/Consumer Behavior and Practices projects must be measurable, and provide services where a need exists within the Service Area that is not otherwise being conducted.
- Collection and/or Processing
- Projects must improve existing zero waste/circular economy programs in ways that facilitate some or all of the following:
- increase the quantity of materials reused, recycled or composted
- create new opportunities for recycling/composting
- improve intermediate processing capabilities
- improve safety
- create efficiencies of operation
- create new technologies
- Funds may be used for: the purchase of containers, balers, shredders, compactors, pallet jacks, construction and/or signs. Infrastructure and equipment that supports a circular economy by giving a company the ability to take back and reuse their products will be given priority. Other equipment and infrastructure requests will be considered on an individual basis.
- Projects that demonstrate new materials or greater quantities of materials will be reused, recycled, or composted as a result of the project will receive funding preference. Projects should demonstrate sustainability and compare the useful life of the infrastructure improvement to the life of the overall project, as well as show the impact of greenhouse gas emissions reduction.
- Projects must improve existing zero waste/circular economy programs in ways that facilitate some or all of the following:
- Manufacturing & Design
- Projects must either; improve the design of consumer goods and/or packaging or create new goods that align with zero waste/circular economy principles.
Funding Information
The $100K total funding is divided into two funding categories for applicants:
- $25K dedicated to smaller projects with a minimum request of $1,000 and a maximum of $15,000.
- $75K dedicated to larger projects with a minimum request of $30,000 and a maximum of $75,000.
Examples of programs that might be considered are listed below. They will continue to accept and consider applications for programs that fall outside of this focus.
- Waste prevention or waste-to-product initiatives, turning waste from one part of an operation or business into a resource for another
- Repair and refurbishment projects
- Curbside toters
- New transportation for single-stream recyclables or organics
- New bins for single-stream or compost collection of materials within municipal buildings
- Zero waste education
- New technologies
- Reuse projects and infrastructure
- Redesigning consumer packaging to increase reuse, recyclability or compostability.
Eligibility Criteria
- Boulder County’s Circular Economy Funding 2025 is open to communities in Boulder County, City & County of Broomfield and Town of Erie, including the part not in Boulder County (Service Area), other incorporated and unincorporated communities within the service area, non-profit organizations, school districts, schools, private companies and individuals.
- To be eligible for funding, projects must be in compliance with all federal, state/local land use regulations and permit requirements. Project applicants must be registered as a business, an official non-profit organization, or a governmental entity. Projects must also be based in the Service Area, divert materials generated in Service Area from the landfill, or involve educational campaigns targeting residents or businesses within the Service Area. Projects must not duplicate existing programs or services.
For more information, visit Boulder County.
