<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1vRYhJ_1H1c7js000" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1vRYhJ_1H1c7js000" width="2048" height="1536" ><figcaption>The materials recovery facility at Apex Waste Solutions in Milner. Western Resilience Center/Courtesy photo</figcaption></figure>Systemwide changes are taking place in the recycling space in Colorado. In 2022, the Colorado legislature passed HB22-1355: Producer Responsibility for Recycling, which creates improved access and convenience to Colorado residents, and means that customers with service from participating haulers will see the cost of recycling removed from their bill.As Producer Responsibility for Recycling, also commonly referred to as “extended producer responsibility” or “EPR,” rolls out statewide, access to recycling will grow. Historically, not all regions of Colorado have maintained access to the recycling system. This landmark legislation seeks to change that. Large-scale packaging and paper product producers will now fund the residential recycling system to take care of the materials they distribute into Colorado. While this program solely pertains to the residential sector at this time, it will expand upon the accepted materials that can go into the recycling stream.A key point here is that recycling is not inherently free. Recycling requires investment in infrastructure; staff and time spent collecting, processing, sorting; continued education and outreach efforts to minimize contaminations; and more. Recycling also creates more jobs and economic benefits than solely landfilling everything. The investment in recycling pays off when considering the intensive emissions process for harvesting virgin materials, manufacturing, production, etc. that are the result of materials consumption.How can you stand to benefit from EPR? Follow your hauler’s guidelines to know what goes in your recycling bin. Knowing what goes in your bin allows you to recycle more and landfill less. Some local haulers even offer smaller trash bin sizes for less money; therefore, the more you recycle, the less you throw away, and there is potential for even further cost-savings. To further your positive impact, consider directing these cost-savings toward food scrap organics collection. Local service providers, such as See Me Compost, offer community collection of food scraps to create compost.The state’s goals for EPR are driven by diversion and access. According to the Colorado Department of Public Health &amp; Environment, the program plan is projected to bring no-cost recycling to an estimated 700,000 households. The paper and packaging recycling rate is aimed to increase to 58% by 2035 under the EPR Program plan.In addition to the increased diversion rate, by 2035, EPR in Colorado is projected to reduce landfill waste by 410,000 tons annually and avoid 1.3 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually — the equivalent of removing 278,000 cars from the road each year. Beyond environmental impacts, EPR has projected positive economic benefits tied to new green jobs and additional annual wages.Locally, this means that recycling will automatically be free of charge to Apex Waste Solutions customers. Any Apex customers who do not currently have recycling will be signed up automatically. Those who are not already Apex customers can sign up for free recycling at ApexWasteCo.com/EPR-Enrollment.Western Resilience Center is working collaboratively with the city of Steamboat Springs to continue education and outreach as it pertains to EPR and its impacts locally. For more information about EPR in Colorado, visit RecycleOn.org/Colorado. For local questions and information, contact Western Resilience Center.Caitlin Farkas is the waste diversion projects manager at Western Resilience Center.</div></body>

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Systemwide changes are taking place in the recycling space in Colorado. In 2022, the Colorado legislature passed HB22-1355: Producer Responsibility for Recycling, which creates improved access and convenience to Colorado residents, and means that customers with service from participating haulers will see the cost of recycling removed from their bill.

Talking Green: EPR to cut customers’ direct costs, boost recycling statewide

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Systemwide changes are taking place in the recycling space in Colorado. In 2022, the Colorado legislature passed HB22-1355: Producer Responsibility for Rec

Talking Green: EPR to cut customers’ direct costs, boost recycling statewide

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