Colorado is one of a growing number of states that has passed Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation for packaging and paper products. If you’re a producer, retailer, or recycling facility operating in Colorado, EPR is going to affect how you operate — and the timeline for compliance is moving.
Altitude Recycling has been working with Colorado businesses on recycling infrastructure since 2010. Here’s what you need to know about EPR and how to make sure your operation is ready.
What Is Extended Producer Responsibility?
Extended Producer Responsibility is a policy approach that shifts the financial and operational responsibility for end-of-life product management from governments and taxpayers to the producers who make and sell those products.
In practical terms: under an EPR framework, companies that produce or sell packaged goods — packaging, paper products, containers — are required to fund and support the recycling and recovery of those materials after consumers are done with them.
The goal is to create a more circular economy where the cost of recycling is built into the product lifecycle rather than passed to municipalities and landfill operators.
Colorado’s EPR Law — SB 22-172
Colorado passed SB 22-172 in 2022, establishing an EPR program for packaging and paper products. The law created a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) structure — a producer-funded entity responsible for running the program — and set a timeline for implementation that is now actively unfolding.
Key elements of Colorado’s EPR program:
Who it covers — Producers (brand owners, importers, licensees) who sell packaged products or paper products into Colorado above certain revenue and material thresholds.
What it covers — Packaging materials and paper products — cardboard, plastic, glass, metal, and other packaging types that end up in Colorado’s waste stream.
Producer obligations — Covered producers must register with the PRO, report on the packaging materials they sell into Colorado, and contribute financially to the program based on their material volumes.
Recycling infrastructure investment — A significant portion of producer fees goes toward improving Colorado’s recycling infrastructure — collection, processing, and end markets — which means more investment flowing into the recycling sector statewide.
What EPR Means for Recycling Facilities and Processors
For recycling facilities, MRFs, and processors in Colorado, EPR represents both a challenge and an opportunity.
Increased material volumes — As EPR programs drive improved recycling access and participation, the volume of material flowing into Colorado’s recycling infrastructure is expected to grow. Facilities that are ready to handle increased volume will be positioned to capture that growth.
Infrastructure investment — EPR programs direct funding toward recycling infrastructure improvements. Facilities that can demonstrate processing capacity and capability are better positioned to access that funding.
New requirements and reporting — EPR programs typically come with data reporting requirements for processors and facilities. Understanding what will be required — and having the systems in place to track and report — matters.
What EPR Means for Businesses That Generate Recyclables
For retail, commercial, and industrial operations that generate recyclable packaging and paper products, EPR changes the landscape in important ways.
Better recycling access — EPR programs are designed to improve recycling availability and quality across the state, which means more options for getting your recyclables processed.
Pressure to improve diversion rates — As EPR programs mature, there will be increasing pressure on businesses to demonstrate that their recyclable materials are actually being recycled — not landfilled. Having the right equipment to properly process and bale materials is part of that story.
Grant and incentive opportunities — EPR program funding flows into recycling infrastructure grants and incentives. Businesses investing in recycling equipment may have access to funding they wouldn’t have had before. Combined with programs like RREO, the funding landscape for Colorado recycling equipment is better than it’s ever been.
How to Prepare Your Operation
Whether you’re a producer navigating EPR compliance, a recycling facility preparing for increased volume, or a business looking to strengthen your recycling program ahead of these changes, the time to act is now — not when deadlines are already on top of you.
For recycling facilities and MRFs:
- Assess your current processing capacity against anticipated volume growth
- Identify equipment gaps — infeed conveyors, balers, sorting equipment — that would limit your ability to handle increased throughput
- Explore grant funding through RREO and EPR infrastructure investment programs
For commercial and industrial operations:
- Make sure you have the right baling equipment to properly process your recyclable materials
- Establish a consistent wire supply so your baling program runs without interruption
- Consider rental if capital constraints have been the barrier to getting equipment in place
For everyone:
- Talk to Altitude Recycling. We’ve been helping Colorado businesses navigate recycling equipment and funding for over 15 years, and we’re actively working with customers on EPR-related planning right now.
Altitude Recycling — Your EPR Readiness Partner
Recycling policy is changing fast in Colorado. The businesses and facilities that get ahead of it — with the right equipment, the right infrastructure, and the right funding in place — will be in a far stronger position than those that wait.
Tyler has worked directly with Colorado operations on grant applications, equipment planning, and recycling infrastructure for over a decade. If you’re trying to understand what EPR means for your specific operation and what steps to take, that’s exactly the kind of conversation we’re set up to have.
Call: 720-545-5348
Email: sales@altituderecycling.com
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does Colorado’s EPR law apply to my business?
It depends on your revenue, the products you sell, and your role in the supply chain. Producers selling packaged goods into Colorado above certain thresholds are covered. Call us and we can help you think through whether and how EPR applies to your operation.
When do EPR requirements take effect in Colorado?
Colorado’s EPR program is being phased in over several years following the 2022 legislation. Producer registration and reporting requirements are rolling out now. Check CDPHE’s website for the current implementation timeline, or call us — we stay current on where things stand.
How does EPR connect to RREO grants?
Both programs are part of Colorado’s broader push to improve recycling infrastructure and diversion rates. RREO grants are available now and can fund equipment purchases. EPR program funding will add additional resources to Colorado’s recycling infrastructure over time. The two programs work together — and Altitude Recycling can help you navigate both.
Will EPR change what recyclables haulers will accept?
Over time, yes — EPR programs are designed to expand what gets collected and improve end markets for recyclable materials. The details will evolve as the program matures.
I’m not a producer — does EPR affect me?
If you’re a recycling facility, processor, or commercial operation generating recyclables, EPR will affect your landscape even if you’re not directly covered as a producer. More material, more funding, more infrastructure investment — all of which affects your operation. Call us to talk through what it means for you specifically.
Altitude Recycling Equipment — Aurora, CO
Recycling Balers, Baling Wire, Equipment Rentals & Service Since 2010
Serving CO, WY, UT, NE, KS, AZ & NM — Equipment & Wire Available Nationwide
720-545-5348 | sales@altituderecycling.com