The US EPA’s new Food Waste Scale is a long-awaited recognition of the importance of composting inedible food scrap and will bring much needed clarity to this issue. The USCC has been urging EPA to make this change for the past decade. The new (Food Waste Scale) revisits the food waste hierarchy and changes the framework to prioritize actions that prevent and divert wasted food from disposal. Tiers of the scale highlight different pathways for preventing or managing wasted food in order from most preferred to least preferred. The USCC believes composting is the superior and most economical option for inedible food scraps.

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CDPHE’s Division of Environmental Health and Sustainability is seeking stakeholder feedback on a legislative proposal that aims to streamline waste diversion grant funding. The proposal would merge the Front Range Waste Diversion enterprise and the Recycling Resources Economic Opportunity grant program into the existing enterprise and expand it to have a statewide focus. This change would allow all grant recipients to benefit from the flexible and long-term funding provided by an enterprise and would enable the regional partnerships afforded by a statewide program like RREO.

CAA has enhanced its website to feature need-to-know information for those who are looking for key EPR implementation milestones and tracking where each state is in the regulatory process.

Air quality and climate action are a top priority in Colorado. The Colorado Energy Office (CEO) is implementing the Clean Air Program (CAP) to provide funding for project implementation and technical support to the industrial sector, including material recovery facilities, landfill operators, municipalities, and more, with the aim of reducing air pollution and decrease energy consumption. Here is a summary of the key offerings supplied by the program:

Circular Action Alliance (CAA), HDR Engineering and Eunomia hosted a webinar yesterday to discuss Colorado’s extended producer responsibility (EPR) program for paper and packaging recycling. Haulers across Colorado were invited to the approximately 40-minute session to learn about the next steps in the implementation process and discuss the upcoming needs assessment period. 

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SALIDA, CO - The dream of a new recycling center and waste transfer station in Chaffee County is a major step closer to reality following today's announcement of a $4 million grant award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The Solid Waste and Materials Management Program of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is proposing changes to "Section 14 - Composting" of the Regulations Pertaining to Solid Waste Sites and Facilities, 6 CCR 1007-2 Part 1.

The Producer Responsibility Program for Statewide Recycling is accepting applications for a vacancy on the Producer Responsibility Advisory Board. This individual will represent the manufacturer of recycled paper products seat and continue in a two-year term that ends in December of 2024. We are accepting applications until September 11 or until the seat is filled.

Recycle Colorado keynote speaker from the 2023 Summit for Recycling featured discussing his book in the Colorado Sun. Learn more on how John was inspired to write "Ecosystems As Models for Restoring Our Economies".

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Estes Valley residents showed up in force on Saturday, August 12 to support Estes Recycles Day, with a record-breaking turnout of 504 cars and trucks unloaded at the Events Center parking lot.

Spring Back Colorado, the Commerce City nonprofit, is desperately trying to figure out how to recycle pocket-coil mattresses affordably. It’s a challenge for the entire industry, even in states with mattress recycling laws.

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Circular Colorado, a Colorado based nonprofit operated by previous Recycle Colorado staff members Laurie Johnson and Amy Randell, will help Colorado reach its waste diversion goals. By supporting and expanding Colorado's existing and new end markets for recycled materials, Circular Colorado hopes to increase the regional demand for materials. 

Read the full article on Circular Colorado & the CEDC

Learn more about Circular Colorado

What happens to a bottle you toss in recycling? Does it get rinsed and refilled? Crushed and repurposed? Or end up in a landfill? Possibly any of those but it depends on where you live. Jamie Sudler of H2O Radio followed a beer bottle to find out what happens in Denver, Colorado.

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Philip Griffith is a new Recycle Colorado member, looking to make an impact in the state. Using his waste WIN -waste interception now - methodology he has been able to cut the waste bill on a test property in half. They have then invested that savings in recycling. It more than pays for itself. He could cut the waste bill in half again. One of the highlights, is the capacity to intercept shrink wrap and all forms of film, Styrofoam, pallets and just about anything that ends up in the dumpster but has a recycling answer.

Learn more about his processes by watching his Green Team video!

Circular Action Alliance has released a Request for Proposal (RFP) for parties interested in conducting the Needs Assessment required by Colorado’s Producer Responsibility Program for Statewide Recycling Act. The RFP is available on bidsUSA and closes on June 30, 2023.

This year, Governor Jared Polis signed the proclamation to make May 7th-13th Compost Awareness Week in Colorado. Members of the Colorado Composting Council banded together to help write the proclamation and get it submitted. We are so proud to have a governor that supports our composting and recycling initiatives!