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Carbon fiber recycler Vartega (Golden, Colo., U.S.) reported on May 22 that it has been awarded a $364,000 grant to fund expansion of its recycling program and create new green-sector jobs. 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).

CDPHE says that although 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% of the nearly 10 million tonnes of household and commercial trash generated that year. In 2018Eleven years later, those numbers have improved with 17% of roughly 7 million tonnes of waste was diverted from landfills in 2018. However, Colorado still lags behind the national average of 35% for waste diversion.

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

“The funds we receive through our RREO grant will help us do more to create circular supply chains and enable a sustainable future,” says Andrew Maxey, Vartega CEO. “As an RREO grant recipient, Vartega will be making critical investments in Colorado recycling infrastructure to upcycle recycled thermoplastics using Vartega’s recycled carbon fiber. By combining recycled carbon fiber with recycled thermoplastics we’re able to create 100% recycled content materials with properties that meet or exceed the properties of virgin plastics. We’re excited that this grant will support our efforts to increase production, create local jobs and develop sustainable use cases for recycled plastic waste.”