Englewood reviews South Metro waste-diversion plan as producer-responsibility law approaches

Englewood city staff and outside consultants on Monday presented the draft South Metro waste diversion plan and asked the council to return it for nonbinding approval on Aug. 18 as a blueprint for the next 10 years of regional recycling and organics work. The plan, compiled for four South Metro cities (Englewood, Littleton, Centennial and Sheridan), is intended to support future grant applications and local implementation steps.

The plan’s baseline findings include a two-season waste-composition study and extensive outreach. The consultants reported that the region currently recycles about 15% of its waste, that a two-season sort processed “over 10,000 pounds” of material, and that roughly 78% of material now landfilled could be recovered through a mix of existing programs, expanded services and specialized collections. Consultants also said that nearly half of residential waste is organic material—food scraps and yard waste—presenting an opportunity for diversion if local processing capacity grows.

Why it matters: Colorado’s new producer-responsibility law (often called extended producer responsibility or EPR) will require producers to fund statewide recycling collection and, starting in 2026, the producer responsibility organization Circular Action Alliance (CAA) will reimburse service providers for the net cost to collect and recycle covered packaging and paper. Helen Lee, senior consultant with RRS and project lead for STEPS, told council that CAA is finalizing an implementation plan with the state and recommended the city “monitor and stay engaged” as municipalities access reimbursements.

Key regional recommendations in the draft plan include establishing regional recycling drop-off centers, expanding access to organics recycling and increasing recycling and composting in multifamily and…