Policy

The Recycle Colorado Policy Committee works on local and state policy to advance waste diversion through reuse/remanufacturing and composting.

Co-Chairs: Brandy Moe, PaintCare, and Randy Moorman, Eco-Cycle
Vice Chair: Jonathan Wachtel, City of Lakewood
Recorder: Mellik Gorton, City and County of Denver
Board Liaisons: Brandy Moe, PaintCare, and Randy Moorman, Eco-Cycle
Staff Lead: Kristin Kim, Executive Director

If you are interested in more closely tracking the status of on-going legislation in Colorado, link to the General Assembly website www.leg.colorado.gov. From there you can also link to Colorado house and senate member directories. Find out who your representatives are with Find My Legislator.

Recycle Colorado State and Local Policy Framework (PDF)

2021 Legislative Session

The First Regular Session of the 73rd General Assembly reconvenes February 16, 2021.

Bills of Interest

• HB21-1162 - Management of Plastic Products | Recycle Colorado support
• HB21-1181 - Agricultural Soil Health Program | Recycle Colorado support
• HB21-1199 - Consumer Digital Repair Bill of Rights | Recycle Colorado support
• SB21-161 - Voluntary Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Natural Gas Utilities | Recycle Colorado amend to include: Pyrolysis does not include materials that could otherwise be economically separated and recycled as determined by CDPHE.
• SB21-180 - Recycling And Composting Enterprise Grant Program | Recycle Colorado oppose: We recognize the importance of producer responsibility policy to change packaging and product design to be more sustainable and circular as well as to fund local recycling infrastructure and markets. Therefore, we strongly support the effort underway to research, engage stakeholders and recommend policy as directed by the passage of SB20-055. Recycle Colorado opposes SB21-180 because we believe it is important that the ongoing stakeholder process be allowed to run its course and that the CDPHE study be completed before moving a policy forward.

Historical Fact Sheets

Develop A Statewide Organics Management Plan (PDF)
Incentivize Development of Recycling End Markets (PDF)
Front Range Waste Diversion Act (PDF)
Manufacturing Sales and Use Tax Exemption for Recyclers (PDF)
Architectural Paint Stewardship Program (PDF)
Electronic Devices Banned from Landfills (PDF)

Grants and Rebates

The Recycling Resources Economic Opportunity (RREO) program, established by the Colorado state legislature in 2007, provides funding that promotes economic development through the management of materials that would otherwise be landfilled. Funds are available to support recycling, composting, anaerobic digestion, source reduction, and beneficial use/reuse.

The Front Range Waste Diversion (FRWD) program and enterprise fund was approved by the Colorado state legislature in 2019, and collects funds from an increase in user fees at Front Range landfill to provide grants and technical assistance to Front Range communities to increase recycling, composting, and waste reduction.

Sector representatives are Recycle Colorado members’ link to the Policy Committee

Members with questions about the Policy Committee or current legislation can contact their respective Policy Committee sector representative.