Submit your innovative project by Friday, February 21st for the chance to win $20,000!
The WPWMA is shifting the historical dynamic of linear solid waste management — take, make and dispose of — to a new model circular resource management, where old products become new products in perpetuity. In short, we are searching for real value in the waste stream of Placer County, and we are collaborating with partners to expedite that commitment.
Working with us to find and mentor new industries and entrepreneurial technologies is California State University Sacramento’s Carlsen Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship. The Carlsen Center is a regional hub providing entrepreneurial education, community, and support for startup founders of all backgrounds to explore and launch their businesses. This collaboration will generate innovations and help us jumpstart a local circular economy.
The WPWMA is powering the Circular Economy Innovation Competition, managed by the Carlsen Center, for its third year. This competition invites innovators, researchers, and entrepreneurs to turn waste into repurposed value. We are on a mission to find innovators and entrepreneurs that can find a way to utilize a variety of materials from our waste streams that are otherwise going un-utilized (ending up in the landfill).
Participants will have the opportunity to showcase their ideas/innovations, receive mentorship to bring their visions to life and compete for cash and in-kind awards.
We are seeking innovations that utilize utilize recoverable waste products and allow WPWMA to:
- Maximize recovery of materials, avoiding increases in landfill disposals
- Reducing costs (transportation, energy usage, etc.)
- Enhancing revenues
- Creating consistency (decreasing volatility of international markets)
Participants will have the opportunity to “pitch” their ideas/innovations, receive mentorship to bring their visions to life, and compete for up to a $20,000 cash prize and in-kind strategic planning and business development support.
The 2025 Circular Economy Innovation Competition is now accepting applications. Submit your innovation using this online submission form by February 21, 2025.
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Learn more about the 2024 and 2023 winners of the Circular Economy Innovation Competition and why developing a local circular economy is so important.
