(1) Creation. The circular economy development center is hereby created in the department. The purpose of the center is to grow existing markets, create new markets, and provide necessary infrastructure, systems, logistics, and marketing to create a sustainable circular economy for recycled commodities and compost in Colorado. The primary activities of the center are: (a) Connecting end markets to existing state grants and incentives; (b) Working with processors and manufacturers in the state to increase the use of recycled content inputs; (c) Supporting waste reduction and reuse within systems that advance circularity goals; (d) Marketing Colorado recycled materials and recruiting out-of-state recycling end markets, including manufacturers, to Colorado; (e) Facilitating connections among recyclers, waste haulers, processors, manufacturers, transporters, municipalities, investors, higher education, and other entities; (f) Supporting end-market-related businesses as those businesses look to scale or grow; and (g) Evaluating Colorado's recycling end markets and supply chains. (2) Administration. (a) On or before July 1, 2023, subject to available appropriations, the department shall contract with a third-party administrator to operate the center. (b) In soliciting for a third-party administrator of the center, the department shall require applicants to submit a proposed work plan for the center, which work plan, at a minimum, outlines goals, strategies, activities, deliverables, and expected outcomes. (c) The administrator shall update the work plan described in subsection (2)(b) of this section annually, and the department shall approve or disapprove the work plan. In submitting an updated work plan pursuant to this subsection (2)(c), the administrator shall include in the updated work plan recommended actions for developing markets for commodities comprising a significant percentage of the waste stream and having potential for use as an industrial or commercial feedstock. (d) In administering the center, the administrator: (I) Shall seek and consider the input of: (A) The department; (B) The office of economic development created in section 24-48.5-101; (C) Representatives from the public and private sectors engaged in waste diversion or economic development activities on the western slope, in the mountains, on the front range, and in eastern and southeastern Colorado; and (D) To the extent practicable, representatives of nonprofit organizations and institutions of higher education; and (II) May seek and solicit on behalf of the center gifts, grants, and donations to pay for the functions of the center, as described in subsection (6) of this section. (3) Web page. The center shall maintain a public web page. (4) Reports. (a) (I) The center shall conduct a statewide end-market gap analysis and opportunity assessment and submit a final report of the analysis and assessment to the department by August 1, 2024. (II) This subsection (4)(a) is repealed, effective July 1, 2025. (b) (I) Beginning September 1, 2023, and on or before each September 1 thereafter, the center shall submit a report to the department describing the progress of the center. The report must include the following information from the preceding state fiscal year: (A) A summary of activities completed by the center; (B) The results achieved and progress made by the center on its approved work plan and progress in achieving its objective of completing circular economies for materials in the state; and (C) A summary of activities and opportunities that the center plans to address in the future. (II) The department shall include the report described in subsection (4)(b)(I) of this section in its annual presentation to the general assembly pursuant to the "State Measurement for Accountable, Responsive, and Transparent (SMART) Government Act", part 2 of article 7 of title 2. (5) Costs. The direct and indirect costs associated with the department's oversight and the administrator's operation of the center shall be paid by money appropriated to the department from: (a) The Colorado circular communities cash fund, pursuant to section 25-16.5-109 (4); and (b) (I) Through September 30, 2025, the recycling resources economic opportunity fund, pursuant to section 25-16.5-104 (2). (II) This subsection (5)(b) is repealed, effective October 1, 2025. (6) Gifts, grants, and donations. The center may seek, solicit, accept, and expend gifts, grants, and donations from public and private sources for the purposes of this part 6.
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