Open Forum

Producer Responsibility recycling program will help Colorado

Colorado ranks among the worst 10 states in the nation in recycling with 11% to 16% rates statewide. This state buries more than $100 million in recyclable resources each year.

The proposed Producer Responsibility Program is a transformative step toward sustainability, economic growth, and social equity. Concerns over potential costs to consumers have created resistance to this program.

However, evidence presented in multiple studies dispels these claims, affirming that the Producer Responsibility initiative does not cost consumers more money. Studies from Oregon and the Product Stewardship Institute demonstrate that PR programs do not lead to significant consumer price increases, showing that the costs associated with these programs are negligible fractions of a penny per unit of packaging.

We all know the environmental benefits of healthy recycling programs, but the economic upside of the proposed program cannot be overstated.

By quadrupling our recycling rates to nearly 50% or an additional 410,000 tons of materials annually by 2035, Colorado will add approximately 7,900 recycling-related jobs, provide feedstock of raw materials domestically, and incentivized investment in innovative technologies.

Investments in Colorado resulting from this program have already begun. Under Colorado’s current linear manufacture to landfill model, the economics end in the ground.

Colorado’s model marries environmental stewardship with economic development. By adopting this program, Colorado sets a precedent for sustainable waste management while simultaneously demonstrating a commitment to an economic model that values inclusivity, efficiency, and environmental integrity.

The evidence is clear: Producer Responsibility is a forward-thinking policy that promises to enhance Colorado’s environmental landscape without burdening its consumers.