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Colorado Producer Responsibility Bill Passed!
Colorado legislature passes landmark bill to transform statewide recycling system
Why is producer responsibility important in Colorado?
THE PROBLEM: Colorado recycles and composts a mere 15% of our discards, less than half the national recycling and composting rate of 32%. That makes us one of the 20 most wasteful states in the US! According to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, we landfill $100 million worth of recyclable materials from packaging every year. Part of the reason for this low recycling rate is that Coloradans do not have equal access to recycling.
THE SOLUTION: Colorado’s Producer Responsibility Program for Statewide Recycling Act (House Bill 22-1355) requires covered producers to join a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO), and through the PRO, fund and manage the collection, processing, and recycling or composting for packaging and paper products. Circular Action Alliance (CAA) was approved as the nonprofit PRO that will administer the Act. CAA incorporated extensive stakeholder feedback in the creation of its Plan Proposal, which outlines the organization’s approach to administering Colorado’s EPR program. Once fully implemented, the Program will expand access to convenient recycling services for Colorado households, particularly those in underserved areas. By 2035, the program is also expected to increase the recycling rate from 25% for paper and packaging to approximately 55%.
How will Producer Responsibility work in Colorado?
Colorado’s Producer Responsibility policy requires companies (“Producers”) to fund and manage programs that ensure the paper and packaging they supply to consumers are collected and recycled responsibly. EPR shifts the responsibility for the funding of collection, recycling and end-of-life management for paper and packaging from local governments and taxpayers to the producer.
Under Colorado’s law, producers pay dues that fund the costs of collection, sortation, and processing of packaging and paper; education and outreach; infrastructure improvements, and end-market verification and development. Due structures can incentivize producers to make packaging design choices that minimize waste and environmental impacts and improve recyclability, among other benefits.
The Benefits of a Colorado Producer Responsibility Policy
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A Colorado Producer Responsibility Policy will make it easy for all residents to recycle more plastics, aluminum cans, glass bottles, cardboard, and printed paper, including at apartments and in rural areas.
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The law will support Colorado businesses by creating a more resilient domestic supply of raw materials to make new products.
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Producer Responsibility creates financial incentives for companies to reduce unnecessary packaging and shift toward using more reusable and recyclable packaging.
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The law will improve Colorado’s recycling rate, resulting in fewer greenhouse gas emissions, cleaner air and water, less waste sent to landfills, and stronger local economies.
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The law will develop a clear common list of what can be recycled statewide.
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The law will save local governments money by reimbursing their costs to run recycling programs.
Producer Responsibility Is a Proven Solution for Colorado
Colorado’s Producer Responsibility program for paint, run by PaintCare, has successfully increased paint recycling and saved municipalities tens of thousands of dollars per year since implementation in 2015. This policy would build off these proven principles to increase recycling for containers, packaging, and paper.
Get involved in Producer Responsibility for Colorado
Sign up for email updates from CDPHE on the policy implementation and important opportunities for public input.
Sign up for Colorado email updates from the Producer Responsibility Organization, Circular Action Alliance, for implementation news and webinars.
Join Recycle Colorado, statewide membership organization to improve recycling in Colorado.