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| Pretred |
Colorado Circular Communities Enterprise (C3 Enterprise) Backs Pretred's Sustainable Growth
Pretred Inc., an Aurora, Colorado-based company specializing in recycling scrap tires into durable barriers, has been awarded a multiyear $11.2 million grant by the Colorado Circular Communities Enterprise (C3 Enterprise). This funding will support Pretred’s expansion, enabling the company to process scrap tires into crumb rubber on a larger scale.
The Circular Economy Development Center endorsed the project following an extensive year-long evaluation of Pretred’s business model, financial stability, and product safety. With this expansion, Pretred aims to transform four million scrap tires from across Colorado into 30,000 barriers annually. These long-lasting barriers are designed for multiple applications, including roadways (TL-2 safety standard), construction sites, erosion and flood control, pedestrian paths, landscaping, and parking areas, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). Importantly, these barriers can be repurposed into crumb rubber at the end of their lifecycle, reinforcing a sustainable circular economy.
Advancing the Circular Economy in Colorado
Laurie Johnson, CEO of Circular Colorado and director of the Circular Economy Development Center, highlighted the importance of circular economy initiatives in waste reduction and job creation. “Establishing circular economy solutions not only keeps materials out of landfills today but also creates jobs and protects our environment for future generations,” Johnson stated.
C3 Enterprise Board of Directors Chair Tyler Bandemer expressed enthusiasm for the grant, noting that it marks a significant step forward in Colorado’s commitment to sustainability. “The board of directors of the Colorado Circular Communities Enterprise is excited to support this monumental leap forward to advance Colorado’s circular economy. It has been a long time coming. We look forward to seeing Pretred’s continued success and providing other services to help businesses and communities achieve increased waste diversion through solutions that reuse materials and minimize waste,” said Bandemer.
Pretred’s Safety Certification and Industry Recognition
Recently, Pretred’s Colorado Rubber Barrier product line achieved certification and passed a safety test that could allow its products to be deployed on roads with speed limits up to 44 miles per hour. The tests were conducted by Calspan Corp., a Buffalo, New York-based testing facility, in accordance with the Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH) standards.
The C3 Enterprise, a statewide initiative, provides financial and technical support to advance circularity in Colorado. It works with communities, businesses, schools, nonprofits, and other institutions to promote waste diversion and sustainable material reuse. The Colorado Circular Economy Development Center further strengthens this mission by assisting businesses in manufacturing new recycled-content products.