Reuse incentives are available!
Colorado businesses may qualify for grants, rebates, and incentives that support reuse. These programs can help cover the cost of switching from single-use items to reusables, improving back-of-house systems, purchasing equipment, and more! Offers include:
- Reusable products and equipment rebates: Funding that helps offset the cost of durable alternatives to single-use items. Common examples include reusable dishware, reusable takeout container systems, and commercial dishwashers.
- Free or subsidized reuse services: Some programs offer free or reduced-cost services to help businesses pilot or expand reuse. Examples include reusable container pilots, compost and recycling bins, waste signage, and staff training.
- Grants for larger sustainability projects: One-time grants that support bigger sustainability upgrades that may include reuse-related equipment, training, or operational changes.
How These Reuse Incentives Work for Communities
Boulder County
Partners for a Clean Environment (PACE) administers many reuse rebates and resources for businesses in Boulder County in partnership with local municipalities. Funding is generally first-come, first-served while funds last. Businesses typically need to connect with a PACE advisor to confirm eligibility and confirm funding availability before purchasing.
City of Boulder
The City of Boulder and Partners for a Clean Environment (PACE) are offering one-time incentives to help businesses switch from single-use items to reusable solutions. Funding covers up to 70% of project costs, up to $2,000, while funds last. Eligible items include reusable dishware, reusable takeout containers, and dishwashers.
Businesses may also receive $1,500 in free reusable takeout container services (e.g., r.World) and free 5-gallon compost buckets.
City and County of Denver
Certifiably Green Denver offers up to $10,000 in mini-grants for small businesses and nonprofits to implement sustainability improvements. Eligible uses include dishwashers, energy-efficient equipment, water-saving fixtures, waste-reduction initiatives, and sustainability training.
City of Lafayette
The City of Lafayette and Partners for a Clean Environment (PACE) offer one-time incentives to help businesses switch from single-use items to reusable solutions. Funding covers up to 50% of project costs (maximum $1,000) while funds last.
Eligible items include reusable dishware, reusable takeout containers, and dishwashers.
Businesses can also get help meeting the commercial recycling ordinance, including free recycling bins, signage, staff training, and a $1,150 coupon toward new recycling service. Pre-approval is required through PACE’s supplier.
City of Longmont
The City of Longmont and Partners for a Clean Environment (PACE) offer one-time incentives to help businesses switch from single-use items to reusable solutions. Funding covers up to 70% of project costs (maximum $1,500) while funds last.
Eligible items include durable dishware, reusable takeout containers, and dishwashers.
Businesses can also receive compost and recycling bins (valued at $330) and 5-gallon buckets with lids for back-of-house composting.
National Incentive Programs
- The Story of Stuff launched a grant program called the Pilot Reuse Fund to support organizations either transitioning away from single-use plastics and packaging or campaigning for reusables in a community.
- Plastic Free Restaurants offers a subsidy program to food service establishments that currently give single-use items containing either petroleum-based plastic or PFAS to customers (or students), is willing and ready to switch to reusables, and is not required by (local, county, state) law to discontinue using the single-use plastic.
- Upstream Solutions compiled a list of funding sources for reuse solutions that includes municipal, state, federal, and private funding opportunities in the US and Canada.