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The attention to disposal options is increasing and visitors expect Colorado to be as aware and responsible as wherever they reside. Many simply assume that recycling is the same everywhere, but it isn’t. Currently each MRF, each community, each hotel sets its own rules, subject to governmental dictates. On our recent travels, each place we spent the night had different rules for what goes into the recycling bucket. Additionally: One hotel had recycling and landfill in the room, plus a compostable food waste collection at breakfast. One hotel had recycling and landfill in the room. One hotel had landfill in the room and recycling for the floor. One had landfill in the room and recycling in the lobby. And others offered only landfill. It is possible but a nuisance to carry recyclables home. The eventual hope is that, someday, Colorado, and even the Nation, will establish minimum standards and supplements, above that minimum, will be optional (and well published).
With the changes expected from the still relatively new EPR laws (Extended Producer Responsibility), there will be changes in the packaging that flood the market. As governments become more aware of what individual companies are promoting, interest in regulation is increasing. Already laws in California forbid deceptive markings that encourage recycling of non-recyclables. This will help simplify and resolve confusion, especially for plastics.
The EPR laws, now enacted by 33 States, require that companies, who make, use, or import (into the State) packaging supplies, to join a Producer Responsibility Organization and pay a fee based upon the quantity and recyclability of their packaging material. These fees will be used to expand and improve recycling. This is also expected to provide recycling throughout rural areas of states with wide open spaces. Of course, each State’s law varies in its particulars. My explanation relies heavily on Colorado’s version, HB22-1355.
Bills in recent years are improving the ecological standing of Colorado. In 2021, the GHG Reduction Roadmap required a continuing reduction of greenhouse gases to below the levels of 2005. The 2023 GHG Reduction Roadmap 2.0 further extended this reduction. 2025, 26%, completed … 2030, 50%, on target … 2035, 50%, 65% … 2040, 50%, 75% … 2045, 50%, 90% … 2050, 90%, 100%. In an effort to reach these goals, all avenues are being considered. During this last session, Colorado passed several bills that contribute to restricting the growth of GHG from energy sources. Such changes take time and many of these will come to the point of enforcement July1, 2025. Others are in force today.
Until last Monday there was a law prohibiting local governments from passing laws that restrict the sales and use of plastic. On Monday, SB21-1162 completed its date of enforcement, repealing that prohibition. Now: On and after July 1, 2024, a local government may enact, implement, or enforce an ordinance, resolution, rule, or charter provision that is as stringent as or more stringent than the requirements set forth in the act. Now, Estes can make its own decisions regarding plastic.
Of course, the other parts of 1162 were already in force. With limited exceptions, businesses with 4 or more Colorado locations, or with National affiliation, can no longer hand out plastic single-use carry-out bags, fee or no fee. Bags made of recycled paper are still permitted for a 10-cent governmental fee. As of June 1, expanded polystyrene take-out boxes can no longer be purchased by restaurants for use as restaurant take-out boxes.
HB24-1449 creates new fees for waste haulers and landfills. Those on the Front Range must pay 74 cents per cubic yard from July 1’24 to Jan 1’25 and 78 cents per cubic yard after that date. The remainder of Colorado must pay a fee of two cents to four cents per load transported (to the landfill). The new Colorado Communities Enterprise Fund, which will replace the organizations from the original HB22-1159, will use these “enterprise funds” to “award grants and other funding, to provide technical assistance to local governments, nonprofit and for-profit businesses, public and private schools, and institutions of higher education throughout the state in pursuit of a circular economy for waste management, including waste diversion and aversion. The act also creates the statewide voluntary sustainability program to support businesses engaging, or looking to engage, in sustainability efforts.” https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb24-1449
With these laws and those from the 2024 Session addressing use of renewable energy and other forms of ecological law, I think Colorado is making strides to become the “green” State everyone thinks that we are. Agree? Disagree? Questions? Comments? RRRcyc@signsandwishes.com
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