Colorado appoints producer responsibility organization to lead EPR program

In 2022, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed House Bill 22-1355 into law to establish an extended producer responsibility (EPR) program in the state, and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) has appointed Circular Action Alliance to serve as the producer responsibility organization (PRO) in charge of implementing Colorado’s new statewide EPR system.

The Producer Responsibility Program for Statewide Recycling Act makes producers responsible for financing a statewide recycling program to cover capital, operating, promotion and education costs to better collect, process and market recyclable materials.

According to CDPHE, Circular Action Alliance is a nonprofit organization that formed in response to the passage of Colorado’s Producer Responsibility Program for Statewide Recycling Act and similar laws in other states. The alliance has developed a working group of producers since the passage of these laws that aim to improve access to recycling while also developing a more circular economy for packaging and paper.

CDPHE says the Circular Action Alliance will develop a convenient, cost-effective program that provides free and equitable recycling of packaging and paper for all Coloradans. By Jan. 30, 2024, Circular Action Alliance will complete a statewide needs assessment to evaluate the recycling infrastructure throughout all geographic areas of the state. Following that, the alliance 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. 

RELATED: Colorado EPR bill signed into law

“I am thrilled we are moving forward with implementing this landmark legislation,” says Jill Hunsaker Ryan, CDPHE executive director. “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 PRO. 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.

CDPHE says the state has committed to achieving a 45 percent waste diversion rate by 2036. To help the state achieve that goal, CDPHE has awarded more than $25 million to fund statewide waste diversion projects and provide rebates for community recycling centers through its Recycling Resources Economic Opportunity Grant Program. The department also has released a Statewide Organics Management Plan in partnership with the Colorado Department of Agriculture to analyze and provide recommendations for organics.