Colorado Legislation in 2025 That Will Move the State Closer to Zero Waste
Eco-Cycle recently wrapped up another successful legislative session, successfully advocating for bills that move Colorado toward Zero Waste. Whether supporting forward-thinking bills or opposing harmful ones, our work with state representatives helps advance policy solutions that support our vision of a world where we consume less, recycle and compost more, and keep fossil fuels and other natural resources in the ground.
Eco-Cycle’s success at the Capitol depends on strong partnerships—with elected leaders, community groups, and engaged people like you, including our network of volunteer Eco-Leaders!
Here’s a look at the key Zero Waste bills Eco-Cycle took action on during the 2025 legislative session, and why they matter:
Huge first step for battery recycling in Colorado!
Signed by the governor! Senate Bill 25-163: Battery Stewardship Programs. Batteries contain valuable minerals that should be recovered to conserve energy, protect natural resources, and strengthen our economy. Yet, Colorado currently recycles just 5% of loose small- and medium-format batteries. Additionally, improperly disposed batteries are a leading cause of fires in waste and recycling facilities. Despite the environmental importance of recovering these materials—and the serious safety risks posed by improper disposal—many Coloradans still lack convenient access to safe, responsible battery recycling.
Eco-Cycle and a coalition of partners championed Senate Bill 25-163 to make battery recycling accessible to all Coloradans. By 2028, companies that sell small- and medium-format removable batteries in Colorado—including button batteries, AAA through D cells, power tools, and e-bike batteries—will be required to fund and implement a statewide collection and recycling program. The system will be managed by a producer-run Battery Stewardship Organization (BSO) and overseen by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). The BSO will reimburse service providers to safely collect, transport, and recycle batteries.
Supporting food donation—a valuable step toward food security and diverting organics from landfills
Signed by the governor! House Bill 25-1166: Efforts to Reduce Food Waste aligns Colorado’s date labeling practices with California’s 2024 law to encourage food donation and reduce wasted food. Eco-Cycle supported this bill in partnership with food rescue organizations. It requires prepared foods—like those from deli counters—to use “best if used or frozen by” labels instead of “sell by,” reducing confusion about when food should be consumed or donated. The bill also expands Good Samaritan liability protections to more organizations, encouraging safe food donation. This is a meaningful step toward addressing food insecurity and keeping edible food out of landfills, where it would otherwise generate methane.
Tax code update will incentivize agricultural compost usage
Signed by the governor! Senate Bill 25-026: Adjusting Certain Tax Expenditures. This law extends a sales tax exemption for the purchase of wholesale “agricultural compounds” to include compost and mulch rather than only synthetic fertilizers. Making wholesale purchases of compost and mulch tax-exempt could save agricultural users significant money. It can also incentivize the use of compost, which helps rebuild soil health—unlike synthetic fertilizers. SB25-026 was supported by the Colorado Compost Council as well as by testimony from Eco-Cycle’s Director of Compost and Carbon Farming, Rutger Meyer.
Protecting Progress: Defeating Bills that Threatened Previous Wins
Successfully defeated! A number of bills were introduced—and defeated—this year that claimed to “save Coloradans money” by eliminating fees. Two of the fees targeted through House Bill 25-1051 and Senate Bill 25-139 were from laws Eco-Cycle and our partners championed, and which cost very little to individuals while providing millions of dollars toward recycling, composting, reuse, and other sustainability programs in our state. The fees, which we successfully defended, include:
- The Plastic Pollution Reduction Act single-use bag fee that has successfully shifted consumer behavior toward reuse and eliminated over a billion single-use bags in Colorado. Customers can avoid this fee by bringing reusable bags instead of purchasing single-use bags.
- The Colorado Circular Communities (C3) fee, based on the tons of material “tipped” at landfills, which goes into a fund to provide free technical support to local governments, as well as grants to governments, businesses, nonprofits, and schools, to further waste reduction and diversion.
Our work doesn’t end with the successful passage of laws. As the legislative session ends, we shift our focus to the details of implementing the laws we helped pass—and begin strategizing for next year’s session. Individual bills are often part of a multi-pronged, multiyear strategy that may include additional supporting legislation, local policy action, outreach and education, and on-the-ground work.
So stay tuned—there’s more legislative action to come! Sign up for our monthly newsletter and get updates delivered straight to your inbox at ecocycle.org/get-involved/subscribe.
