Nonprofit organization Circular Colorado will develop a new type of innovation hub to meet both supply- and demand-side needs for recycled materials, starting with plastics.
The NextRun hub will be housed within the Denver facility of Direct Polymers, the state’s largest plastics processor, according to a Dec. 2 press release. In addition to a full-scale production and testing environment, the hub will provide consistent access to recycled plastic feedstock processed by Direct Polymers and a dedicated area for startups, manufacturers and materials scientists to collaborate.
The facility is intended to meet the needs of the entire spectrum of recycling stakeholders. “The path to a circular economy requires both new innovators and established industry leaders,” said Laurie Johnson, founder and CEO of Circular Colorado. “With Direct Polymers as our foundational partner, NextRun becomes more than just a facility – it becomes an ecosystem.
For startups, the facility will provide access to the necessary equipment and materials to scale up a new concept, as well as training in best practices for operational execution, she said. And for manufacturers, the hub provides a low-risk environment in which to test recycled feedstocks as they work to incorporate PCR into existing products. Ahead of the hub’s opening, Circular Colorado is seeking interest from established companies, startups, and programs with scale-up support needs for polymer circularity.
Direct Polymers aims to keep the state’s recovered plastics – bound to increase in volume with the 2026 implementation of extended producer responsibility (EPR) law for packaging – close to home by developing end markets.
“For years, we’ve seen recycled plastic from Colorado get shipped out of state because of the lack of local demand,” said Adam Hill, CEO of Direct Polymers. “Our partnership with Circular Colorado on NextRun is the solution. We are not just a supplier; we are a technical partner ensuring innovators have the right materials and knowledge to succeed. This closes the loop right here in Colorado, turning waste into economic opportunity.”
The first phase of the hub is expected to start up in the second half of 2026, and will focus on products made from recycled plastics. A later phase will be dedicated to construction and demolition (C&D) waste streams.
