SUBJECT:
Title
Extended Producer Responsibility Discussion
Department
DEPARTMENT: Environmental Services
Presenter
PRESENTER(S): Emma Marino, Sustainability & Water Conservation Specialist
Eryka Thorley, Sustainability Division Manager
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Time
TIME ESTIMATE: 60 minutes
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Fiscal
FISCAL SUMMARY:
N/A
Policy
POLICY ISSUES:
Waste diversion is a key priority outlined in the 2019 Sustainability Plan with emissions from waste being the single largest greenhouse gas emission source in Erie.
Recommendation
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommend that Council receive at a minimum yearly presentations or memos about the Extended Producer Responsibility program.
Body
SUMMARY/KEY POINTS
• The Town and its residents can receive funding and reimbursements as part of the Extended Producer Responsibility program (EPR) operated by the State to offset the cost of recycling.
• Funding is collected from consumer products producers and will then be issued as reimbursements to eligible organizations (waste collectors, recycling transfer station operators like the Erie Recycling Center, materials recovery facilities, etc.), reimbursements are expected later in 2026.
• Haulers are not required to participate, so staff recommends residents confirm what they are paying for recycling services today and request their waste hauler participate.
BACKGROUND OF SUBJECT MATTER:
On June 3, 2022, the Producer Responsibility Program for Statewide Recycling Act, House Bill 22-1355 <https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb22-1355>, was signed into law. It established a Producer Responsibility program that requires companies that sell products in packaging and paper products to fund a statewide recycling system to recycle those materials. This program, referred to as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), requires related companies to form a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) that coordinates, funds, and manages this statewide recycling system.
Circular Action Alliance (CAA) was appointed as the PRO for Colorado and created a program plan that was adopted by the State in late 2025. The first phase of the plan is targeted towards residential recycling, including reimbursement for recycling drop off facilities, like the Erie Recycling Center. Funds are expected to be distributed in late 2026, but the timeline will depend on the fees collected by CAA. The waste collectors that service Erie are not required to participate, but staff want to ensure residents are able to advocate for themselves to receive this discount on their recycling services moving forward. EPR aims to make recycling as convenient as trash service and introduces free recycling services for residents, with improvements rolling out over time.
Beginning with residential cost offsets in 2026, EPR will expand to commercial and school reimbursements in 2028 and small businesses in 2030. Some details are still being negotiated, but Erie will likely see $2-3 per household in outreach and education funds to support communicating with residents and other relevant entities starting in late 2026. Current discussions involve collaborating with the Boulder County Resource Conservation Division and EcoCycle on outreach and education efforts, prioritizing consistent messaging and coordination with neighboring jurisdictions.
Waste Collection Data
To better understand the significance of recycling reimbursements in Erie, it’s helpful to understand previous waste diversion efforts and collected data, specifically the 2023 Community Survey results as well as an informal questionnaire conducted in 2024/2025 in which 232 people participated. The 2023 Community Survey showed that 89% of residents have access to curbside trash and recycling pickup, 51% of residents would be interested in a Town coordinated pickup if it were to be priced competitively based on what they pay currently, and 68% of respondents have their waste hauling managed by their HOA, so they don’t currently have a choice as to who they contract with for their services.
An informal questionnaire shared with households went a bit deeper and showed that 70% of respondents did not know what they currently pay for hauling services as it is contracted by their HOA. This information indicates that to maximize recycling reimbursements and cost reductions for residents, it’s imperative that staff communicate with HOAs and residents to identify their current recycling costs and even advocate for new contracts for the 11% of Erie households who may not have current curbside recycling services.
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attachments
ATTACHMENT(S):
1. Presentation
2. CAA Colorado Program Plan
3. EPR Overview