New Mexico businesses, local governments, Tribal governments, schools and nonprofits can now apply for a share of $11.5 million in funding for projects that keep materials and resources in productive use through reuse, recycling and recovery.
The New Mexico Environment Department today issued a request for proposals for circular economy projects while also releasing the state’s first Circular Economy Plan, a roadmap for reducing waste, strengthening in-state markets and infrastructure and keeping materials and economic value circulating in New Mexico.
A circular economy keeps products and materials in use through practices such as maintenance, reuse, refurbishment, remanufacturing, recycling and composting. These efforts can reduce pollution and resource extraction, create jobs and strengthen local supply chains. Projects can include recovering critical minerals from e-waste, transforming discarded textiles into reusable products and composting food waste for agricultural use.
“The circular economy is getting an $11.5 million kickstart in New Mexico for projects that can include any and all ideas — from standing up critical mineral mining of e-waste to transforming textiles into durable goods to expanding commercial food waste composting,” said Environment Secretary James Kenney. “An $11.5 million investment, alongside our first-ever Circular Economy Plan, will build stronger and more sustainable local supply chains for the benefit of New Mexico communities by turning wastes into commodities.”