Companies selling products in Colorado would pay fees to fund better recycling – Aurora, Colorado

Colorado Parliamentarians have expressed their final support for a review of recycling that distributes responsibility from consumers to producers of all commodities sold in the state. An estimated 1,500 companies offering products packaged in plastic, glass, metal and paperboard.

Companies will pay a “Producer Responsibility” fund to support the curbside of the entire state recycling Parliamentarians reuse industry under measures passed Wednesday — now heading to Governor Jared Polis to sign to become law. The company then gets the first dive to retrieve its material.

With this overhaul, Colorado will join Canada, Europe, and other parts of the globe to attack waste sent to landfills for products and packages, the third state in the United States (Maine and Oregon). Is positioned as). Waste buried in landfills emits methane gas that traps heat, and federal authorities have identified landfills as a major cause of climate warming. This leads to an increase in fires, droughts and other disasters.

Approved with 21-14 votes in the Senate and 40-25 votes in the House of Representatives, Colorado law has gained support from producers enthusiastic about reclaiming more material for reuse and is easy to recycle. Design products and packages.

“This is the most important recycling policy we could have passed and is a national breakthrough,” said Eco, a boulder-based recycling organization that promotes recycling throughout the state. -Kate Bailey, Cycle’s Policy and Research Director, said.

“All residents of Colorado and all local governments will benefit. This will reduce climate pollution, reduce plastic pollution, reduce unnecessary packaging, save local government costs and save Colorado. A stronger and more resilient local supply chain will be built to help revitalize our manufacturers and local economies. “

Parliamentarians have taken action to reverse Colorado’s status as a recycler delay.. Colorado’s recycling rate is 15.3% for state waste, down from 15.9% in 2020 to 17% in 2018, less than half of the national average of about 32%, according to state data. I’m staying.

In 2020, Governor Jared Polis declared that Colorado would move from delay to leader. The state goal set in 2017 requires that 45% of waste be recycled across the state by 2036.

However, groups in the paper industry are fighting Colorado’s countermeasures. “We urge Governor Police to reject the HB22-1355. Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme is not the right policy approach for sustainable paper products,” said Terry, Vice President of the American Forest & Paper Association. Webber said, warning that it could raise consumer costs. “Colorado should instead focus on working on underfunded and underdeveloped recycling programs.”

Other opponents include the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, the Colorado Retail Council, Molson Coors, the Home Appliances Association, the Colorado Hotel and Lodges Association, and the Plastics Industry Association.

Companies that support Colorado’s measures include Wal-Mart, L’Oreal, New Belgium Brewing, Dr. Pepper, Coca-Cola, Courig, Danone, Nestle and Unilever.

“I think this is a bold solution to increasing the recycling rate of all Colorado recyclable materials, including bottles and cans,” said William Dermody, Vice President of the American Beverage Association. “We want to be able to collect more bottles and cans and remake them into new ones. Colorado is the first state to actually embrace our principles…. Producers can regain their materials to make new products. They want to use less new plastic. “

“Once the bill arrives at my desk, I’ll consider it,” Police said.