Policy

Battery Stewardship for Small and Medium Format Batteries (SB25-163) was championed by Recycle Colorado in partnership with the National Waste and Recycling Association (NWRA) in 2025. This bill will help keep small and medium format batteries out of the diversion stream and reduce the safety risks that they cause.

The Waste Tire Management Enterprise (SB24-123) bill was ran by Recycle Colorado. It purpose was to renew the waste tire fees that  fund rebates, illegal tire cleanups, and CDPHE regulatory activities through 2040. This bill proposed to distribute the fee to CDPHE to use in their waste tire program and to a new enterprise fund which will administer the rebates, fund illegal clean-ups (in coordination with CDPHE), and distribute grant funds. This allows a new Board composed of experts in waste tire management and sustainability, along with local government officials, to work together to promote the recycling and responsible handling of waste tires, while also allowing CDPHE to continue its regulatory work.

The Environmental Sustainability Circular Economy Bill (HB24-1449) was presented by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), which Recycle Colorado supported. This bill would combined two of Colorado's waste diversion grant program funds into one enterprise fund. The combination of the Recycling Resources Economic Opportunity Program (RREO) & the Front Range Waste Diversion Program (FRWD) established the Colorado Circular Communities Enterprise Fund. This bill also made updates to the Pollution Prevention Act of 1992, improving CDPHE sustainability services.

The Organics Diversion Study Bill (SB23-191) was pursued by Recycle Colorado in 2023. This bill directed CDPHE to study the impacts, benefits, and feasibility of requiring the diversion of organic materials from landfills. This is the resulting report can be found on CDPHE's website.

Producer Responsibility for Packaging and Paper (HB22-1355) was championed by Recycle Colorado in 2022. It will provide access to recycling to all Coloradans with no added cost to consumers or local governments. Producer Responsibility will be implemented in 2026. For updates on implementation by the Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO), visit Circular Action Alliance's website. You can find the implementation timeline, advisory board meetings, and additional information on CDPHE's website. 

Waste Diversion And Circular Economy Development Center (HB22-1159) was supported by Recycle Colorado in 2022. It will provide support and technical assistance to businesses using recycled materials in manufacturing (including organic materials to create beneficial end products like compost). Circular Colorado was awarded the contract with CDPHE to run the Circular Economy Development Center.

The Plastics Pollution Reduction Act (HB21-1162) was supported by Recycle Colorado in 2021. It created a fee on single-use checkout bags, bans single-use plastic bags and styrofoam food containers, and lifts the local preemption on plastic bans allowing local jurisdictions to pass ordinances reducing single-use plastics. 

Incentivizing Development of Recycling (SB20-055) created incentives for manufacturers to incorporate recycled materials into their products. The bill recommended a structure and governing guidance for a recycling end market development center to support the development and expansion of end market businesses. Such a center would help increase the demand for recycled materials, which would in turn raise the value of recyclables and make recycling more economically viable, resulting in more materials diverted from the landfill.