Colorado’s Landmark Producer Responsibility Laws: What They Mean for Recycling and Zero Waste in the State
In 2022, Colorado passed landmark legislation, HB 22-1355 Producer Responsibility for Recycling Packaging and Paper, making it the third state in the country to pass this ambitious policy.
Colorado’s combined recycling and composting rate has remained steady at around 15% for years, which is less than half the national average of 32%. To increase this rate, Coloradans urgently need better access to recycling. Colorado’s Producer Responsibility program (sometimes called Extended Producer Responsibility or EPR) program for packaging and paper will begin to implement the roll-out of no-cost recycling access for all Coloradans in 2026.
Eco-Cycle has been actively involved in shaping Colorado’s Producer Responsibility laws. In partnership with Recycle Colorado and other allies, we’ve helped draft, advocate for, and now implement these policies. Eco-Cycle is uniquely positioned to drive impactful Zero Waste policies, drawing from both our hands-on experience educating residents about recycling and Zero Waste, and our direct role in collecting and processing materials at the Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM) and the Boulder County Recycling Center.
Colorado’s Producer Responsibility for Packaging and Paper Incentivizes Better Packaging Design
Colorado’s Producer Responsibility law for packaging and paper requires producers to take responsibility for the end-of-life management of their products. In addition to expanded recycling access, key benefits of the policy include:
- Creating incentives for manufacturers to design more sustainable, less toxic, and more easily recyclable products and packaging; and
- Shifting the costs of recycling from individuals and local governments to producers.
The law applies to all consumer-facing packaging, so it includes:
- Bottles, cans, containers, boxes, and mailers;
- Printed paper; and
- Food service packaging.
Additionally, a statewide list of recyclable materials will be established, meaning recycling guidelines will be the same throughout the state.
Curious how the new Producer Responsibility will change recycling for Coloradans?
We’ve got answers! Earlier this month, Eco-Cycle hosted a webinar on Colorado’s Producer Responsibility laws both for packaging and printed paper and architectural paint as well as the bill we’re advocating for in the legislature right now that will set up a system for battery collection and recycling throughout the state.
- If you missed the webinar, you can view it on our YouTube channel. Below are a few highlights from the webinar, including how you can get involved.
Producer Responsibility Means Recycling for All Coloradans, Paid for by Packaging Producers
The key benefit of Producer Responsibility for Colorado residents is expanded recycling services to all single- and multifamily homes, funded by producers—not taxpayers. This includes infrastructure improvements to make recycling collection as convenient as trash collection. By 2028, the program is also required to provide recycling services to some non-residential entities which could include schools, small businesses, and government buildings across the state. Residents must be given opportunity and access to recycle, but they are not required to do so.
Cost and Funding: The program is 100% producer-funded, with producers paying based on the type and amount of packaging they put into the market. Fees will be just fractions of a penny per package, with lower fees for easier-to-recycle packaging to drive more sustainable design. Decades of similar programs worldwide show that Producer Responsibility laws do not increase consumer prices, as product costs are driven by much larger factors like labor, fuel, supply chain expenses, etc. In fact, Colorado residents who currently pay for recycling services will save money, as those costs will be covered by the program. Those without recycling services will receive them for no cost.
Timeline: This February, the implementation plan for the program was completed by the Producer Responsibility Organization, composed of producers that sell packaging and/or paper into the state. This plan is now under review by a State-appointed advisory board representing communities, environmental groups, recycling experts, and others. The plan will ultimately be reviewed and approved by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, and the program is expected to launch in early 2026.
Colorado’s Current and Proposed Producer Responsibility Policies:
Colorado already has one Producer Responsibility law in place, with a second under consideration.
- PASSED: In 2014, Producer Responsibility for architectural paint was passed, creating a program to provide convenient collections so that at least 95% of Colorado residents have a permanent collection facility within a 15-mile radius of their home and yearly collection events in areas without drop-off sites. This is paid for through a small point-of-sale fee when paint is purchased. This program successfully collects more than 800,000 gallons of paint every year, the majority of which is recycled or reused. Without this program, local governments would have to fund paint collections or deal with paint improperly disposed of in sewer systems or by other means.
- PROPOSED: In 2025, a Producer Responsibility program for small- and medium-format batteries—including button batteries, toy batteries like AA and others, and e-bike and power tool batteries—has been introduced and is currently being heard in the state legislature. Batteries improperly disposed of in recycling or trash are a leading source of fires in waste and recycling operations. This proposed bill would require producers to pay for battery collection sites across the state so that the valuable materials in the batteries can be safely collected and recycled back into new batteries.
How to Get Involved
If you’re ready to support Zero Waste in Colorado, here’s how to get involved:
- Become an Eco-Leader! Learn more and sign up here. As an Eco-Leader, you can sign up for the Policy Action Team to be in the loop to take legislative and policy action, and get involved with other Zero Waste policies in Colorado, like:
You can learn much more about product stewardship and Zero Waste by watching our recent webinar!
