FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 17, 2024

Contact: media@circularaction.org

Today the Joint Budget Committee (JBC) of the Colorado General Assembly approved a scenario under which Circular Action Alliance (CAA), the Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) for Colorado’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) law for packaging and paper products, could support the state in more than doubling the current recycling rate for these materials by 2035.  

“CAA is honored to move forward with EPR implementation in Colorado in collaboration with the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment and other stakeholders,” said Neil Menezes, Chair of the CAA Colorado Board. “We are prepared to develop a plan proposal that gives all Coloradans convenient and equitable access to recycling and provides companies that are responsible for covered materials the support they need to meet their obligations under the law.”

In January, CAA delivered a comprehensive assessment of the state’s current recycling system and opportunities for system improvement to the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE), achieving its first major milestone since its selection as the PRO that will administer Colorado’s Producer Responsibility Program for Statewide Recycling in May 2023. The Needs Assessment included three potential recycling system scenarios based on the cost and performance of the current system and options for improvement. The three scenarios proposed in the Needs Assessment outlined recycling and collection rates that the State could meet by 2030 and 2035, as well as the operating and capital costs to reach each Scenario. Following a public comment period led by CDPHE, CDPHE recommended one scenario for approval by the JBC. The recommended scenario more than doubles the recycling rate for covered material by building on existing infrastructure, investing in new collection capacity, and expanding services in both high population and rural areas.

With the JBC’s decision, CAA will move forward with the development of a plan proposal aligned to the approved recycling scenario and supported by additional stakeholder input and data. The plan proposal is due to CDPHE on or before February 1, 2025.

As an immediate next step, CAA is requesting that all producers register with the PRO by July 1, 2024. Companies that expect to have obligations under Colorado’s EPR law for packaging and paper products can register online and review CAA’s Producer Resources Center for more information.

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About Circular Action Alliance
Circular Action Alliance (CAA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) dedicated to implementing effective Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws for paper and packaging across the United States and is approved as the single PRO in California and Colorado, and the only paper and packaging PRO to submit a program plan in Oregon. The organization is led by 20 companies from the food, beverage, consumer goods, and retail industries that are united in their commitment to deliver harmonized best-in-class compliance services to all producers, scale innovation, and build systems that help both companies and consumers waste less and recycle more.