The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is pleased to celebrate Colorado Recycles Week, from November 11-15, and encourages everyone to do their part to reduce, reuse, and recycle. 

In June 2022, Colorado passed HB22-1355, a law requiring producers of packaging to create a producer responsibility program to manage packaging in the State. Recognizing that used petroleum and petroleum related products and packaging are better managed independently of other packaging materials, the Lubricant Packaging Management Association 'LPMA' (a national non-profit) powered by Interchange 360 was created in 2024. 

The intention of Interchange 360 is to develop a program in accordance with HB22-1355. As part of program development, Interchange 360 is seeking baseline data on the current state of end-of-life management for used motor oil and used motor oil packaging in Colorado.  

Bruin Waste Management will do weekly organic waste pickup for restaurants, businesses and HOAs. Congrats Telluride!

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Longmont’s Universal Recycling Ordinance (URO) third phase is quickly approaching on January 1, 2025, requiring organics (composting) collections for food wholesalers, distributers, manufacturers, and grocery stores. The City is providing resources, one-time financial assistance, and signage to support implementation. For assistance and more information on the URO, please visit bit.ly/URO-Info.

Do you have the next big idea in sustainable design, reuse, repair, compost, recycling, or recovered materials?  

Discover reuse-friendly businesses in Denver through our Reuse Business Directory. You’ll find places to repair, rent, or buy used items all while supporting local. In 2023, these Denver reuse businesses employed over 3,000 people and contributed $540 million to the economy annually. They are making a huge impact on Denver, and we are making it easier for Denverites to access their services! Choose to consume differently, repair it, rent it, or buy it used — it’s just as good as new. 

Tersus Solutions is a Colorado-based, clean-tech company that enables brands to participate in the circular economy by offering advanced, environmentally-friendly cleaning technology alongside a full suite of textile reclamation and single-SKU logistics solutions. 

The Producer Responsibility Program for Statewide Recycling is accepting applications for a vacancy on the Producer Responsibility Advisory Board. This individual will represent the environmental justice seat. We are accepting applications until October 4 or until the seat is filled.

Gov. Jared Polis and local officials break ground on massive complex to support surge in state’s “circular economy” effort.

Recycle Colorado member, Pretred, is a finalist in the Colorado Chamber's Coolest Thing Made in Colorado competition.

Denver (September 5, 2024): Jill Hunsaker Ryan, executive director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, has appointed thirteen individuals to serve on the Colorado Circular Communities Enterprise Board. The board aims to help Colorado businesses, local governments, and communities efficiently use resources through recycling, composting, extending the use cycle of products, and shifting manufacturing processes to reduce waste.

CDPHE is looking for bids from contractors to develop an update to Colorado's Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan.

The Composting Consortium is an initiative of Closed Loop Partners’ Center for the Circular Economy. Their mission is to increase food waste diversion and the collection/recovery of food-contact compostable packaging. Two of their new platforms/projects that launched this week which may be of interest to you, your team, Colorado composters and Colorado municipalities.

The report was commissioned by Colorado’s Circular Economy Development Center and prepared by RRS. Textiles, tires, plastics, and wood identified as key focus areas for circular economy development in Colorado. 

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 In support of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the availability of up to $63 million to enable state and local governments to expand battery recycling and modernize American manufacturing by making cutting edge technologies like advanced sensors and modeling more accessible to small- and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs). Administered by DOE’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC), this funding opportunity advances next-generation tools and resources to achieve the Biden-Harris Administration’s ambitious goal of a net-zero economy by 2050 and will help revitalize and strengthen America’s global leadership in manufacturing.

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The idea of recycling is nice. But with few companies recycling consumer waste into something useful, efforts seem futile. Don’t despair. Here are companies making new stuff out of old stuff in Colorado.

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The City of Steamboat Springs, in partnership with Routt County Regional Building Department, has contracted with Vert Sites, LLC, to perform a study of waste materials generated locally from new construction, renovation, and demolition/deconstruction (C&D). A major component of this study is stakeholder engagement with construction waste haulers/processors, and local building professionals and contractors.

On May 17th, 2023 the Standards for Products Represented as Compostable, Senate Bill 23-253 was signed into law.