Resources
Knowledge Hub
The Colorado Circular Communities (C3) Enterprise is guided by a board of directors and supported by Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) staff. Built on the foundation of previous programs, C3 helps streamline waste aversion and diversion efforts across Colorado and provides greater flexibility for funding and technical assistance for all of Colorado to advance circularity efforts. The focus is to help move our state’s economy from the linear take/make/throw away model, to a resilient economy where we value and reutilize our resources locally for as long as possible.
We don’t do this work alone. It takes many different entities working together to achieve success particularly for rural and underserved communities across Colorado.
C3 has a variety of resources, including consulting support for the public sector, to connect and provide local governments, communities, nonprofits, schools, institutions of higher learning, and tribes with resources to advance the state’s transition to a circular economy.
In addition to the technical assistance and funding opportunities available through C3, we want to share information and materials to help all entities pursue and achieve success in circularity.
Key Resources
This Resource Library is not expected to be an exhaustive source of all possible information and resources. Some materials may contain outdated information. However, dated materials still offer insight and direction.
The materials focus on circularity efforts and cover rural, urban and suburban communities of various populations. Information available in the Resource Library includes sample contracts, plans, policy and ordinance examples, a wide range of studies, and data from a variety of sources such as local governments in Colorado and across the country. These resources are intended to help replicate success at every scale for every type of entity or community interested in pursuing efforts to enhance circularity. In other words, C3 aims to meet library visitors where they are and help them take steps to advance to the next level.
Our goal is to provide easy access to important information and resources. When possible, we have taken steps to ensure that materials are compatible with assistance devices. However, digital accessibility compliance for resources not owned or published by the State of Colorado, CDPHE or the C3 program is not guaranteed.
Public Sector
Implementing the Plastic Pollution Reduction Act (Best Practices)
Website with resources for implementing the Plastic Pollution Prevention Act (PPRA), includes guides for municipalities, businesses and communities
National Apartment Association Recycling Programs Best Practice (Best Practices)
Trends, benefits, and methods for recycling programs and case studies
Encouraging and Mandating Building Deconstruction (Best Practices)
Toolkit involving potential policies to look into, potential city roles, and how to evaluate its effectiveness
Free Guide & Tools for Enhancing & Promoting Multi Family Recycling (Education/Outreach)
Free customizable marketing tools and other campaign resources
Colorado EPR Needs Assessment (EPR)
Report outlines the Needs Assessment study that evaluated the recycling infrastructure, services, and costs throughout all geographic areas of the state and proposed three scenarios for increasing collection and recycling rates in Colorado by 2030 and 2035.
Colorado Integrated Solid Waste & Materials Management Plan (ISWMP) (Research/Studies)
Diversion plan categorized by different locations throughout CO - Appendix D contains funding sources
Public and Private Sectors
Recycle Colorado (organizations)
Recycle Colorado is a non-profit dedicated to advancing recycling and composting infrastructure, end markets, and state and local policies. It provides information on recycling related policy, grants and programs.
Solid Waste Permitting (Regulation and Compliance)
Information about solid waste permitting, registrations, and certifications.
Solid Waste Facility Regulations (Regulation and Compliance)
Regulations for recycling facilities / MRFs are in Cection 8, and those pertaining to composting facilities are in Cection 14.
Colorado Recycling Legislation (Regulation and Compliance)
Updates on State of Colorado bills and state policies.
State of Recycling in Colorado (Research/Studies)
Annual reports by EcoCycle that summarize Colorado's recycling goals & efforts and compares cities & counties recycling rates.
Colorado's Solid Waste Plan (Research/Studies)
Colorado’s 2016 integrated solid waste and materials management plan.
Colorado's Organics Management Plan (Research/Studies)
Colorado’s 2022 statewide organics management plan.
Library
This library is a work in progress and over time more resources will be added.
Examination of current solid waste management to increase waste diversion
Website with resources for implementing the Plastic Pollution Prevention Act (PPRA), includes guides for municipalities, businesses and communities.
Report outlines the Needs Assessment study that evaluated the recycling infrastructure, services, and costs throughout all geogrphic ares of the state and proposed three scenarios for increasing collection and recycling rates in Colorado by 2030 and 2035.
The FRWD program supports waste diversion data tracking in the Front Range through the Municipal Measure Program (MMP). The program equips local governments with tools and reports to enhance waste diversion capacity and success, including decision-making tools, program performance evaluations, benchmarking, and recommendations.
Website with resources related to Colorado's Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy
Website with resources for implementing the Plastic Pollution Prevention Act (PPRA), includes guides for municipalities, businesses and communities
Partnering with Eco-Cycle, resource to collect data of waste diversion programs and policies
Evaluation with costs for moving public collection system to PAYT, adding subscription compost & expanding drop-site collection of recyclables & organics (has good cost data when available)
Provides history & challenges related to MFU & commercial recycling as well as generator guidance
Policy influences, education & outreach, and recycling collection logistics
Requires hauler to provide MFU/commercial recycling & generators to provide common area recycling, also residential PAYT
Included commercial waste audit, business survey & stakeholder discussions with recommendations for hauler licensing & reporting, enhanced drop-site collection, dedicated marketing & employee education & improved enclosures
Top 5 tips including signage, waste audits, web-base trainings, and green teams to engage the public
Science behind composting, management guidelines, and different composting methods
Study evaluated MSW stream, single-stream recyclables & C&D stream for diversion potential & contamination
Comprehensive hauler licensing, PAYT, MFU/commercial recycling policy for county & incorporated towns (one of most comprehensive policy docs, developed from other existing Colorado policy)
Ordinance amending solid waste hauler regulations
Mill levy approved in 2018 to fund 5 key areas across the county with roughly $2M/year available to expand & add new waste diversion programs & infrastructure
Facility produces Class III compost & other products from food, wood, green waste & biosolids
Hauling tips and other collection methods for organic waste
A review of best practices and recommendations for litter management
Evaluation of regional drop-site system, recycling center enhancements & education program
Software tool to manage and measure waste and recycling programs
A partnership to help advocate recycling programs, meet sustainability goals, and help develop policy solutions
Multi-sector ordinance examples, recycling program guidelines and building design
Waste characterization study for a diverse population density
Short skit advertisements used to help divert trash and promote recycling through light-hearted comedic cartoon animated trash.
Requires haulers to provide MFUs & businesses with recycling service equal to 50% of trash service & generators to provide occupants/employees/customers with recycling, also hauler licensing & residential PAYT requirements
County facility accepts food, wood & green waste plus biosolids to produce multiple products
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
Do you have questions about EPR or want to learn more about the program in Colorado? A good place to start to learn more is the state's website: Producer Responsibility program.
Test Library
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2015 waste composition study for Archuleta, Dolores, LaPlata, Montezuma, and San Juan Counties, and Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Tribes (likely outdated information)
2017 Pueblo County residential and commercial waste composition.
Colorado annual solid waste diversion totals from 2007; includes residential, commercial, and industrial diversion
CDPHE resource providing list of registered recyclers, including materials accepted
Commercial landfills in Colorado
Colorado Advanced Manufacturing Association
Bale specifications industries to assist in the buying and selling of materials and products
Colorado Advanced Manufacturing Association tools for manufacturing employers and job seekers
Data includes producer price index, employment cost trends, employee benefits, and unit labor costs
Information for employers in Colorado
Apprenticeship / employee training program and pipeline
Example of a waste composition findings report for institutional, commercial, and industrial use
2017 evaluation of regional drop-site system, recycling center enhancements, and education programs
Includes requirements for homeowners to have trash services, all businesses to have compost and recycling, and all recyclable materials to flow through the Boulder County Recycling Center
Hazardous waste brochure for how to use facility, handle materials, and fees
Detailed guidance on how to select a trash service level
Tool developed for assessing local government process and achievement
EPA guidance on anaerobic digester (AD)/biogas projects.
State guidance on recycling of various materials and finding recyclers
Colorado guidance on prohibited landfill waste
Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries
Colorado chapter of Manufacturing Extension Partnership National Network
An organics waste and management news publisher
Nonprofit focused on promoting and enhancing recycling in the U.S.
Snapshot of U.S. recycling industry including commodity values, associated jobs, and economic activity