Public-Private Partnership with Providence Joins to Transform the City’s Materials Collection System

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Beginning this month, the City of Providence will start delivering new, standardized trash and recycling collection carts to residents to help divert recyclables from landfills and create new materials with recycled content. These collection carts will replace aging and inconsistent containers and lay the foundation for a stronger, more effective recycling system citywide. The recycling effort is supported by a $7.4 million investment from Closed Loop Partners, American Beverage Association and other major brands, The Recycling Partnership, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) Grant Program.

The new carts are a major step in a multi-year public-private partnership to address longstanding challenges in Providence's recycling system. By aligning public funding, private investments, infrastructure upgrades, and resident education, the project is taking direct action to reduce contamination, strengthen recycling operations, and deliver measurable recycling rate improvements citywide. Providence's current contamination rate is over 47 percent, resulting in over 8,000 tons of valuable materials intended for recycling being rejected and sent to landfills annually instead of being made into new products. That is equivalent to approximately 288 pounds of valuable materials lost to landfill per household.

Contributing to the multi-million dollar project, circular-economy focused firm Closed Loop Partners provided a commitment of over $5 million in financing from its Catalytic Capital & Private Credit group, including its beverage strategy, backed by the American Beverage's Every Bottle Back Initiative, in partnership with Rhode Island's beverage companies, and its infrastructure strategy, backed by Amazon, The Coca-Cola Company, Colgate-Palmolive, Danone North America, Kenvue, Keurig Dr Pepper, P&G, PepsiCo, Primo Brands, Starbucks, Unilever, the Venn Foundation and the Walmart Foundation. Additionally, the city secured two grants including $625,000 from The Recycling Partnership, with funding through the Every Bottle Back Initiative, and an additional $1.8 million provided through the EPA's SWIFR grant program, which supports improvements of post-consumer materials management and infrastructure. Together these investments aim to improve Providence's recycling rate of 2.4 percent, currently the lowest in Rhode Island.

"Since the start of my Administration, we have focused on making Providence cleaner, greener and more efficient," said Mayor Brett Smiley. "That's why we are investing in new trash and recycling carts, along with education and enforcement strategies to change behavior and get the City's recycling program back on track. By combining these investments with targeted outreach, we ae helping Providence neighbors manage waste more effectively, improve recycling rates and enhance quality-of-life while supporting long-term sustainability."

"Strategic capital and collaboration across the value chain are critical to building a resilient circular economy in cities across the U.S.," said Ron Gonen, Founder & CEO of Closed Loop Partners. "The joint funding made possible by this partnership, and bolstered by commitments from the federal government, is a key step toward catalyzing more capital to circular solutions, and laying the groundwork for waste-free cities. We are proud to support Providence, a city that is leading the way towards strengthening the infrastructure, education and partnerships needed to keep more of our valuable materials in circulation."

Closed Loop Partners' Catalytic Capital & Private Credit group has an over 10-year track record of deploying flexible catalytic capital to many leading recycling companies and municipal recycling programs in the U.S. The financing to Providence marks a key step in their work to advance circular economy infrastructure. Following this financing, Closed Loop Partners looks to continue to invest capital into solutions that keep a range of valuable materials in circulation.

"Strong partnerships are essential to building recycling systems that actually work for communities," said Keefe Harrison, founder and CEO of The Recycling Partnership. "This effort goes beyond delivering carts. It brings funding, tools, education, and hands-on implementation together to turn infrastructure into real progress. By working closely with Providence city leaders and trusted partners, we are helping design solutions that meet residents where they are and deliver lasting, measurable results for the community."

These infrastructure improvements are paired with robust resident engagement. A citywide recycling education campaign is underway, including direct mail, neighborhood outreach, and clear on-cart guidance to help residents understand what belongs in the recycling cart and why it matters.

"This investment reflects our commitment to working hand-in-hand with communities to support good policy and programs that increase the collection of valuable recyclables, including our industry's aluminum cans and plastic bottles," said Peg Sweeney, executive director of the Rhode Island Beverage Association. "Then we can ensure they are remade as intended and don't end up in waterways and green spaces, or wasted in landfills."

The City of Providence anticipates the delivery of the approximately 55,000 recycling carts to be completed early this summer. For more information about Providence's cart program, visit http://www.providenceri.gov/carts.

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