A truck dumps recycled materials to be sorted and baled at the City and County of Denver Recycling Processing Center on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022.
“It will completely transform our waste management system,” Stiles said. “Colorado has some of the worst recycling in the country.” The program will create a standardized list of materials that will be recycled, according to the health department. The agency estimated that statewide recycling rates for paper and packaging will increase to 58% from 25% by 2035., a nonprofit managed by 20 companies from the food and beverage, consumer goods and retail sectors that create and use packaging.
The new fees associated with excessive packaging also should serve as an incentive for corporations to reduce what they use to package and deliver their products, Stiles said.Colorado has “abysmal” recycling rate, but most plastic bags and foam takeout containers are on their way out soonFree recycling for every household in Colorado will start in 2026, state officials say