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CDPHE appoints first Producer Responsibility Organization in the nation for statewide recycling of packaging and paper

Released by Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

REMOTE (May 1, 2023): The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has appointed Circular Action Alliance as the Producer Responsibility Organization in charge of implementing Colorado’s new statewide recycling program created under the Producer Responsibility Program for Statewide Recycling Act. 

Circular Action Alliance will develop a convenient, cost-effective program that provides free and equitable recycling of packaging and paper for all Coloradans. By January 30, 2024, they will complete a statewide needs assessment to evaluate the recycling infrastructure throughout all geographic areas of the state. Following that, they will develop a program plan to detail how it will implement the recycling program to best serve Coloradans and establish targets for minimum recycling rates in Colorado by 2030 and 2035. 

Circular Action Alliance is a U.S. non-profit organization formed in response to the passage of Colorado’s Producer Responsibility Program for Statewide Recycling Act and similar laws in other states. Circular Action Alliance developed a working group of producers since the passage of these laws and are committed to the successful implementation of the program to provide all Coloradans with better access to recycling while advancing a more circular economy for packaging and paper.

“I am thrilled we are moving forward with implementing this landmark legislation,” said CDPHE executive director Jill Hunsaker Ryan. “Over the last several years, Colorado has made tremendous progress to help move us towards a more sustainable future. Producer responsibility is a solution that helps to solve some of the major gaps concerning supply chain, recycling end markets, and accessibility of recycling.”

The department evaluated and ranked the applications received for the producer responsibility organization. Scoring was based on criteria required within the Producer Responsibility Program for Statewide Recycling Act, including a diverse list of participating producers representing a variety of material types, the funding mechanism for the needs assessment, and governing board composition, as well as other applicable criteria.

Find more information about the program and upcoming activities on the Producer Responsibility Program webpage.

We are committed to achieving a 45% waste diversion rate by 2036 and are working in a variety of ways to move the needle:

• We have awarded over $25 million to fund statewide waste diversion projects and provide rebates for community recycling centers through our Recycling Resources Economic Opportunity Grant Program. As the majority of the state’s waste is generated on the Front Range, we also have a dedicated grant program specifically targeting this area through the Front Range Waste Diversion Grant Program.

• We released the Statewide Organics Management Plan in partnership with the Colorado Department of Agriculture to analyze and provide recommendations for increasing diversion of this waste stream.

• Colorado is now poised to address the need for local recycling markets and attract end-market users and entrepreneurs to the state after the passage of the Waste Diversion and Circular Economy Development Center.

• The Colorado Paint Stewardship Program “Paint Care” supports the free recycling of unused paint. Since 2015, PaintCare has collected over 5.1 million gallons of unused paint and has established 185 free drop-off sites in Colorado.

• We run a statewide information campaign, Erase the Waste, letting Coloradans know how they can help the environment through recycling. 

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Colorado legislature passes landmark bill to transform statewide recycling system

Producer Responsibility policy will provide recycling to all Colorado residents, reduce unnecessary packaging, and build more resilient domestic supply chains to ease supply chain disruptions for Colorado manufacturers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2022

DENVER - The Colorado Producer Responsibility for Recycling Act, HB22-1355, passed the Colorado Legislature on Wednesday, making Colorado the first state in the country to create a fully producer-funded and operated statewide recycling system for all consumer-facing packaging and printed paper. The bill was championed by a broad coalition of national and state businesses, local governments, environmental advocates, recyclers, and residents, demonstrating unquestionable support for easier, more accessible recycling in Colorado. 

“This policy will make it easy for all Coloradans to recycle more plastics, aluminum cans, glass bottles, cardboard, and printed paper. It will also help manufacturers and businesses by creating a more resilient domestic supply of recycled materials to make new products. Amid historic supply chain disruptions, rampant climate change, and pervasive plastic pollution, there has never been a more important time to invest in recycling,” said Kate Bailey, Policy Director at Eco-Cycle and lead author of the bill.  

HB22-1355 fundamentally transforms Colorado’s recycling system by requiring companies that sell printed paper, cardboard, and metal, glass, and plastic packaging into the state to pay for a statewide recycling system. The system will be administered by a producer-run nonprofit, known as a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO), supported by an advisory board, and overseen by a state agency. The PRO will collect and manage producer funds and reimburse public and private service providers for collecting and processing recyclables. The goal is for every Coloradan to have free, convenient recycling that is just as easy as their trash service.  

The bill was led by Recycle Colorado, the statewide recycling non-profit. “Recycle Colorado leveraged the diversity and expertise of its membership hosting over 70 stakeholder meetings with internal and external stakeholders to craft a best-in-class policy built off of proven models and tailored to best fit the unique needs of Colorado,” said Charles Kamenides, Board President of Recycle Colorado.

Colorado currently recycles just 15% of its waste, less than half the national average, largely because many residents lack access to convenient, affordable curbside recycling services. Meanwhile, Colorado landfills recyclable material that could have been sold for over $100 million and used by businesses to reduce the impact of supply-chain challenges by creating a reliable source of paper, metal, plastics and glass to make new products. Globally there are 40 countries and provinces with over two decades of proven successes with similar Producer Responsibility systems that have resulted in recycling rates of 70-80%. 

“People believe we have a green state and are shocked to hear how low our diversion rates are,” said State Representative Lisa Cutter, one of the sponsors of HB22-1355. “This bill will protect our climate, create an easier and more consistent system of recycling throughout the state, and contribute to creating a circular economy. We've been laggards in this area, and this gives us the opportunity to be leaders."

The broad, diverse coalition of supporters behind this effort speaks to the critical importance of investing in recycling as an essential and practical solution to cut climate pollution and build stronger domestic supply chains. Major international corporations, including Amcor, The Coca-Cola Company, Danone North America, Keurig Dr Pepper, L’Oreal USA, Mars, McCain, Nestle, PepsiCo, Reckitt, SC Johnson, Unilever North America, and Walmart supported the bill. In a support letter from The Consumer Goods Forum, these business leaders stated, "We applaud the state in drafting strong EPR [Extended Producer Responsibility] legislation that will invest in solutions for packaging waste and help create a more circular economy.”

American Beverage, which represents the non-alcoholic beverage industry, lauded the measure’s strong role for producers that enables them to run an efficient, cost-effective collection system convenient to consumers and that can achieve strong environmental outcomes.

“Our 100% recyclable bottles and cans are made to be remade, and one of our industry’s highest priorities is getting them back. Colorado’s legislation is a model for creating a circular economy for recyclables, and we encourage Gov. Polis to sign this legislation into law,” said Katherine Lugar, president & CEO of American Beverage, a national beverage trade organization who supported the bill.

HB22-1355 was hugely successful in bridging the urban-rural divide in Colorado and uniting a full representation of cities, towns, and counties across the state in support, as seen by the support letter from 65 local government leaders spanning the spectrum of Colorado communities, from rural counties like San Miguel, Ouray, and Saguache, to Front Range cities like Fort Collins, Aurora, Westminster, and Denver. In addition, local government organizations Colorado Municipal League (CML), Colorado Communities for Climate Action (CC4CA), Counties and Commissioners Acting Together (CCAT), and Metro Mayors Caucus also supported the bill. 

"People across Colorado want to recycle, but access varies widely,” explains Clear Creek County Commissioner and Colorado Communities for Climate Action President George Marlin. "In rural Colorado, it can be even more expensive and difficult. Much of the business community wants to do its part in ensuring Colorado has convenient, reliable access to recycling no matter where they live. Let’s let them."

“Colorado Municipal League (CML) is thrilled that local governments will soon have accessible, convenient, sustainable recycling services statewide thanks to the passage of HB22-1355. The League is thankful for the months of stakeholder work that went into the bill to create a model producer responsibility policy. HB22-1355 will transform how Colorado recycles and it will benefit every one of our 270 members,” said Meghan MacKillop, Legislative and Policy Advocate for Colorado Municipal League (CML).

The bill also has strong support from a coalition of environmental groups and organizations, including Eco-Cycle, CoPIRG, Sierra Club, Good Business Colorado, Environment Colorado, Conservation Colorado, Green Latinos, and other in-state partners, and national partners including the Product Stewardship Institute (PSI), The Recycling Partnership, and World Wildlife Fund. And thousands of individuals—residents, business owners, and elected officials—wanting a more efficient and equitable recycling system for Colorado wrote to their senators and representatives, submitted letters-to-the editor in local media, and showed up to testify at hearings, even staying up until 1:30 am to make their voices heard.

“Too often as consumers we can’t avoid the unnecessary packaging that comes with our products,” said Danny Katz, Executive Director of CoPIRG. “Ensuring producers take on financial responsibility for the boxes, containers, bottles, paper and packaging they send us will result in less stuff to begin with and the stuff we do get will be more likely to actually get recycled. It also creates funding that can get at our state's abysmal 15% recycling rate and build a more universal recycling system statewide that is better for consumers and better for the planet.”

The first U.S.-based Producer Responsibility policies were adopted in Maine and Oregon in 2021. Maine’s program will only apply to packaging and not paper, and the Oregon program will only be partially funded by producers, making Colorado the first state to adopt a fully producer-funded program for all consumer-facing packaging and paper. 

“By matching effective waste management practices with accountability, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is an essential tool to address plastic pollution,” said Alejandro Pérez, senior vice president, policy and government affairs, World Wildlife Fund. “We have a lot of work to do to achieve a waste-free future, but we are one step further because of Colorado’s actions. The state is setting an example of how industry, environmentalists and policymakers can join forces to transform the way we use, reuse and recycle materials.”

The bill heads to the Governor's desk for signature. Learn more about the benefits of Producer Responsibility, the policy details, and the coalition of supporters at www.RecyclingForAllColoradans.org. 

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QUOTES FROM ADDITIONAL SUPPORTERS

“HB22-1355 will benefit our beautiful state’s environment, our businesses with a diversified and resilient supply-chain, and finally our families who will benefit from free recycling services,” said State Senator Kevin Priola, one of the senate sponsors.

“We often think of Colorado as being on the forefront of environmental issues, and yet you look at the recycling rate in this state, we’re not even average…we are at just a 15% recycling rate—just less than half the national average—and it is largely because people who want to live these values, want to shop in environmentally sustainable ways, who want to participate in addressing the climate crisis, literally don’t have the infrastructure to do so. They don’t have the access to convenient, affordable curbside recycling services. This bill just changed that,” says State Senator Julie Gonzales, co-sponsor of the bill. 

“Recycling is a statewide equity access issue and today Colorado took a step in the right direction in passing HB22-1355: Producer Responsibility Program For Recycling. This is the first step in ensuring that we acknowledge the responsibility we have as a state to make sure that we are recycling and that our community is at the root of implementation.” Ean Tafoya, State Director for GreenLatinos. 

“As an innovative and rapidly-growing plastics recycler in Colorado, we are challenged by not getting enough local feedstock of recycled plastic to make into our compounded products,” said Adam Hill, Owner of Direct Polymers and a member of Recycle Colorado. “We oftentimes have to bring materials in from many states away to meet our production needs, when much of that feedstock is available right here in Colorado. HB22-1355 will jump-start recycling in Colorado and will mean a larger, more consistent stream of plastic scrap that we can bring in, reprocess, and sell to local and regional manufacturers."

“The Colorado Sierra Club celebrates the passage of HB22-1355. This measure will increase the low diversion rate in the state of Colorado. It will also incentivize companies to produce less packaging and to produce packaging that is more sustainable.” Jan Douglas, Co-Chair of Legislative Committee for Colorado Sierra Club

“This is great news for Colorado businesses like mine who care about what kind of world we are passing on to our children, and who want our customers to know that we’ve got their backs on recycling.” Megan Mitchell, Cactus Jack’s Saloon and Grill, and Good Business Colorado member. 

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About Recycle Colorado

Recycle Colorado is a statewide non-profit organization working to advance infrastructure, end markets, and state and local policies in waste reduction, recovery and diversion. Recycle Colorado has over 300 members from across the state—from the public, private and non-profit sectors. https://www.recyclecolorado.org 

About Eco-Cycle

Eco-Cycle started recycling in Colorado in 1976, and today employs over 65 staff and recycles over 60,000 tons of materials each year, making it one of the nation’s oldest and largest nonprofit recyclers and a Zero Waste pioneer. Eco-Cycle innovates, implements, and advocates for local and global Zero Waste solutions to foster a more regenerative, equitable, and climate-resilient future. For more information: www.ecocycle.org. 

About American Beverage

American Beverage is the national trade organization representing the broad spectrum of companies that manufacture and distribute non-alcoholic beverages in the United States. For more information, please visit www.americanbeverage.org. For more information on our leadership initiatives, please visit www.balanceus.org and www.innovationnaturally.org.  

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HB22-1355 Supporters

Local Government Groups

Colorado Communities for Climate Action (CC4CA)

Counties and Commissioners Acting Together (CCAT)

Colorado Municipal League (CML)

Metro Mayors Caucus

Local Governments

The following County Commissioners:

Emma Pinter, Adams County

Matt Jones, Boulder County

Randall Wheelock, Clear Creek County

Jeanne McQueeney, Eagle County

Matt Scherr, Eagle

Jonathan Houck, Gunnison County

Jake Niece, Ouray County

Ben Tisdel, Ouray County

Steve Child, Pitkin County

Kelly McNicholas Kury, Pitkin County Commissioner

Rachel Richards, Pitkin County

Francie Jacober, Pitkin County

Tom McCracken, Saguache County

Scott Fetchenhier, San Juan County

Kris Holstrom, San Miguel County

Lance Waring, San Miguel County

Josh Blanchard, Summit County

The following Mayors:

Aaron Brockett, Boulder

Guyleen Castriotta, Broomfield

John Beltrone, Edgewater

Kyle Schlachter, Littleton

Ashley Stolzmann, Louisville

Corinne Platt, Ophir

John Clark, Ridgway

Kim Langmaid, Vail

Dan Richardson, Former Mayor Carbondale

City Councils:

Aspen

Golden 

Longmont

The following Council Members and Trustees:

Randy Moorman, Arvada

Alison Coombs, Aurora

Elyse Hottel, Basalt

Laurie Anderson, Broomfield

Heidi Henkel, Broomfield

Jean Lim, Broomfield

James Marsh-Holschen, Broomfield

Beth Goldstone, Crested Butte

Chris Haver, Crested Butte

Paul Kashmann, Denver

Robin Kniech, Denver

Geoffrey Grimmer, Town of Eagle

Hannah Gay Keao Edgewater

Lilly Steirer, Edgewater

Christiaan van Woudenberg, Erie

Tricia Canonico, Fort Collins

Katie Soles, Fraser

Jessica Burley, Frisco

Tim Barnes, Lafayette

Tony Briggs, Lafayette
Patrick Berry, Mountain Village

Katherine Goff, Northglenn

Jenny Willford, Northglenn

Polly Enochs, Ridgway

Kevin Grambley, Ridgway

Beth Lakin, Ridgway

Tim Howard, Superior

Jonathan Staufer, Vail

Obi Ezeadi, Westminster

Rachel Hultin, Wheat Ridge

Businesses

Consumer Goods Forum members 

Amcor

The Coca Cola Company

Danone North America 

L’Oréal USA

Mars, Incorporated

McCain Foods

Nestle

PepsiCo

Reckitt

SC Johnson

Unilever United States

Walmart

In the News