To advance opportunities for recycling in Colorado, the state legislature passed the Recycling Resources Economic Opportunity (RREO) Act of 2007. This established a grant program to help create or expand existing recycling programs, and to provide rebate opportunities for Colorado businesses and organizations that are actively providing recycling services. Funding for the RREO program is generated by tipping fees on solid waste at Colorado landfills. Grants and rebates are overseen by the Pollution Prevention Advisory Board and its corresponding assistance committee, and are administered by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment waste diversion team.
Funding opportunities
Grants
RREO grant funding promotes economic development through the management of materials that would otherwise be landfilled. Funds are typically available to support source reduction, recycling, composting, anaerobic digestion, and beneficial use/reuse projects for a wide variety of materials.
The RREO program has historically offered one Waste Diversion Grant opportunity per fiscal year in Fall/Winter for projects greater than $30,000. When possible, the program also offers a Mini-Grant opportunity in the Spring for projects between $10,000 - $30,000. The fiscal year runs from July 1 - June 30, and grant availability and timelines are subject to change. Government entities, public or private schools, colleges and universities, for-profit businesses, or nonprofit organizations operating in Colorado are eligible to apply. Read the open grant opportunity section to learn more.
Congratulations to the fiscal year 2024 RREO waste diversion awardees! Thank you to all who applied. Please sign up for our newsletter to receive future grant opportunity announcements!
Rebates
The RREO rebate program was developed to assist free public recycling drop-off sites by offsetting a portion of the operations and transportation costs incurred by collecting and shipping recyclables to market or to a processing center. Any local government, nonprofit, or for-profit entity within the State of Colorado that operates a free public recycling drop-off site, and that incurs transportation/hauling costs associated with providing one or more free public recycling drop-off sites is eligible to apply for a rebate. Rebate applications are typically available in April of each year, and cover the recyclables collected and transportation costs incurred during the previous calendar year. Read the open rebate opportunity section to learn more.
The intent of this rebate program is to assist free public recycling drop-off sites by offsetting a portion of the transportation costs incurred by shipping recyclables to market or to a processing center. The current rebate application period is from January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023.
In anticipation of the regulatory changes outlined in §25-16.5-106.5, which will repeal the RREO program in fiscal year 2026, the program anticipates that this will be the final RREO rebate opportunity.
Recycling rebate application information packet
Applications are due April 30th, 2024 no later than 3:00 p.m.
Applicants will be prompted to create an account if one does not already exist. Once an account has been created and a new application has been started, applicants may save an application and return to it later via the application portal.
Once you submit your application, you will receive a confirmation email from mail@grantapplication.com. Notify the email below if you have not received confirmation within one business day of submitting your application. Faxed or emailed applications will not be accepted.
Contact
NextCycle Colorado
NextCycle Colorado is a business accelerator funded by the RREO program that challenges businesses, organizations, non-profits, universities, and entrepreneurs to pursue innovative projects that will develop new, or improve existing, recycling and composting end markets in the state. NextCycle helps teams develop business plans, make connections across the state, find partners, understand industry and economic data, identify feedstock, secure funding, and drive toward shovel-ready projects under the guidance of an expert advisory committee.
Contact us
Have an idea of how to expand waste diversion in Colorado? Want to learn more about our grant offerings or other resources? Need technical assistance with your grant application? Sign up for office hours with our Outreach & Technical Specialist, Erin Girard, using the link below or email Erin at erin.girard@state.co.us.