Clean Valley Recycling Receieves $51,454 Grant, Plans To Expand Services

Description: Clean Valley Recycling Offers Curbside Service and Diverts More Than 600 Tons of Waste From The Landfill Annually.

Clean Valley Recycling Wins Competitive Grant to Expand Its Recycling Program and Help Grow Colorado’s Economy

State-sponsored grants divert waste from landfills and create new green-sector jobs

Rocky Ford, CO 9/18/20 – Clean Valley Recycling has been awarded a $51,454  grant in recognition of plans to expand its recycling program. The funding is part of the Recycling Resources Economic Opportunity (RREO) competitive grant program, which is administered by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE).

Colorado has made strides when it comes to diverting trash from landfills by reducing, reusing and recycling waste, but there is still plenty of room for improvement. According to CDPHE, in 2007 the state diverted only about 7 percent of the nearly 10 million tons of household and commercial trash generated that year. Eleven years later, those numbers have improved as 17 percent of roughly 7 million tons of waste was diverted from landfills in 2018. Yet Colorado still lags well behind the national average of 35 percent for waste diversion.

The RREO grant program gives for-profit, nonprofit, and local entities the infusion of funds they need to expand access to recycling and help Colorado surpass the national average. However, grantees must demonstrate more than a plan for better managing waste. Each must also show how it will help build local economies and create permanent jobs for Coloradans who are ready to get to work.

Clean Valley Recycling is building on more than $17.3 million in RREO grant funds that have gone to making a positive impact on the quality of life in towns, cities and regions across Colorado.

“The funds we receive through our RREO grant will help us expand and improve our recycling programs” says Deanna Hostetler. “As an RREO grant recipient, Clean Valley Recycling will receive help in purchasing a new truck (the old truck has frequent mechanical issues) as well as bins for cardboard recycling and bags for curbside recycling.  These purchases will help CVR continue to provide convenient and comprehensive recycling services at affordable prices.   Last year CVR recycled 642 tons of materials and hopes to increase this by 10% over the next year. CVR also has a Reclaimed Building Materials section where folks can purchase paint and other used building materials very inexpensively. This is all part of our mission to help our community Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle!  CVR is a nonprofit organization and has four full-time equivalent (FTE) employees and many volunteers who keep the operations running.”   

“We are pleased to recognize Clean Valley Recycling for its dedication and commitment to reducing the amount of waste sent to Colorado landfills and creating new jobs in the local economy,” said Eric Heyboer, RREO Grant Program Administrator at CDPHE. “Through our RREO grants, we incentivize partnerships that are a win-win for Colorado’s economy and the environment and this project exemplifies that mission,” said Eric Heyboer, RREO Grant Program administrator at CDPHE.

 About the RREO Grant Program

The Recycling Resources Economic Opportunity Act (HB 07-1288) created the RREO Grant Program with the intent to fund implementation projects that promote economic development through the productive management of recyclable materials that would otherwise be treated as discards. Projects that meet this goal are designed to implement recycling, composting, anaerobic digestion, source reduction, and beneficial use/reuse for a wide variety of materials. Funds are awarded to businesses, local governments, nonprofit groups, and schools and universities throughout Colorado. The grant program is under the authority of Colorado’s Pollution Prevention Advisory Board.

Share

Tweet

Follow SECO News on Facebook.
Subscribe to the SECO News YouTube Channel.