The Circular Economy Development Center and two statewide partners told City Council members on Sept. 22 that Colorados Extended Producer Responsibility program — created by House Bill 22-1355 — will shift financial and operational responsibility for end-of-life paper and packaging from taxpayers to the companies that put those products into the market.

In practical terms, the Circular Action Alliance (CAA) and Colorado Circular Communities (C3) representatives said producers will pay annual dues into a producer-led organization; those funds will fully finance collection, sorting and processing of covered materials and will be distributed to participating haulers, drop-off sites, processors and education programs. City staff confirmed the state program and the citys recent waste-characterization study create new opportunities for local action.

Why it matters: City officials and presenters said the program could remove the per-household recycling line item many residents pay now and expand access where curbside collection is provided by private haulers. For an open-market city like Colorado Springs, presenters said the main pathway for free curbside recycling is haulers choosing to participate and be reimbursed by the producer organization.

Key points presented
- Alicia Archibald, satellite office coordinator with the Circular Economy Development Center, described local business projects that reuse tires and polypropylene and framed the program as an economic-development opportunity.
- Morgan Bachman of the Circular Action Alliance said obligated producers will pay dues based on the quantity of material they sell into Colorado; those dues will fund the statewide recycling system, including collection, sortation, processing and outreach. The program plan was described as under review at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) with a target for approval later in the year.
- CAA will reimburse eligible haulers for recycling collection costs; participating haulers could offer recycling to residents at no direct monthly charge. Presenters said haulers cannot be forced to join but that market incentives should encourage participation.
- Initial implementation will prioritize households and small multifamily properties (seven units and under); by 2028 the program plans to expand to schools, government buildings and public places.

City staff context and next steps
- Ryan (city project lead) said the city obtained a waste-characterization study funded by a roughly $350,000 grant derived from tipping-fee revenues and that Colorado Springss estimated diversion rate is about 17 percent. He said the study and EPR together create new options to increase recycling access beyond what local government funding could previously support.
- City staff confirmed two primary ways the city could participate: accept education-and-outreach funds (based on a per-household rate) and retain control over how those funds are spent, or opt to have CAA spend the funds on the citys behalf. Staff also noted potential reimbursement if the city opens drop-off facilities or operates municipal collection.
- Morgan Bachman said producers who are registered and meet thresholds must pay dues beginning in the programs implementation timeline; if producers sell covered products in Colorado but do not register or pay, they are barred from selling or distributing those products in the state beginning 07/01/2025 and dues collection for covered producers is expected to begin in January 2026.

Open questions and council concerns
- Council members asked about program enforcement and how the state will track compliance. Presenters said CDPHE is responsible for enforcement and is hiring staff to manage compliance; the producer organization will coordinate implementation with local governments and haulers.
- Council members asked whether consolidating haulers in certain neighborhoods could reduce truck traffic and road wear. Presenters and staff said the program could reduce duplicate routes if a single hauler serves an area but that the city lacks comprehensive route data from private haulers and would need additional reporting or study to quantify road impacts.

Outlook
City staff and presenters encouraged Council to consider two near-term steps: (1) deciding whether Colorado Springs will accept and administer education-and-outreach funds or allow CAA to administer them, and (2) engaging with haulers to encourage participation so residents can begin receiving no-cost recycling service when the programs funding and reimbursements are active.