Producers selling packaging, paper products, and food serviceware into Colorado must report supply data to Circular Action Alliance (CAA) by July 31, 2025, to remain in compliance with the state’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) law. The reporting requirement is a critical step in the law’s implementation and Colorado’s transition to a circular, producer-funded recycling system. CAA serves as the designated Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) in Colorado. 

Circular Action Alliance (CAA)  submitted its amended program plan describing how the organization will implement Colorado's new Producer Responsibility Program. The amended program plan incorporates all amendment requests from the Colorado Producer Responsibility for Statewide Recycling Advisory Board, and numerous other changes to ensure clarity based on broader feedback from the advisory board and interest holders. The overall goals and general approach remain unchanged, and CAA remains poised to more than double the state’s recycling rate of packaging and paper by 2035. CAA will share implementation updates and training sessions via a monthly newsletter. 

Juri Freeman, Colorado Executive Director at Circular Action Alliance discusses the tools and resources CAA offers to successfully report in Colorado before the July 31, 2025 deadline.

“Two years ago, extended producer responsibility for packaging was still an emerging concept in the United States. With at least five states now working toward implementing laws, a lot has changed.”

“Freeman will hit the ground running when he joins CAA as executive director on June 18. Colorado is in the process of implementing its extended producer responsibility program for packaging and paper products, and CAA is its producer responsibility organization tasked with building the program plan.”

“The program requires applicable product producers to contribute a small amount of funds for recycling of the products and packaging the companies sell in the state. The funds will help manage the end of life of materials through collection, processing and recycling, or composting.

”Colorado designated Circular Action Alliance in May 2023 as the Producer Responsibility Organization to coordinate, fund and manage the statewide recycling system.”

“CAA, a brands-led organization that also has been selected as a producer responsibility organization for California and Oregon, will engage with stakeholders over the next nine months to prepare a program plan aligned with these goals.”

“As of press time, the CDPHE’s recommended program has been submitted to the state’s joint budget committee for approval. If approved, CAA, with the aid of an EPR advisory committee comprised of 13 stakeholders, including those in the hauling, packaging, recycling and legislative sectors, will develop how to implement the program, with a deadline of Feb. 1, 2025. The finalized program, complete with a statewide minimum recyclables list, is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2026.”

This year, Colorado and Maryland chose the Circular Action Alliance as their producer responsibility organization, while California is expected to choose theirs in 2024.