On May 17th, 2023 the Standards for Products Represented as Compostable, Senate Bill 23-253 was signed into law.
Effective July 1st, 2024, SB23-253 requires food service products and plastic products labeled as compostable sold or distributed in Colorado to be certified compostable and to be clearly marked as such. Producers of non-certified compostable products are prohibited from using misleading labeling that could imply the product is compostable.
Requirements for certified compostable products
Starting on July 1, 2024 food service products and plastic product sold or distributed in the state should only be represented as compostable if it meets the following standards:
- It is compostable by ASTM D6400 or ASTMD6868 standards.
- The product must be immediately distinguishable as certified compostable upon quick inspection. The product must display:
- A certification logo that indicates the product is certified compostable.
- The word "compostable" where possible.
- Green symbols, colors, tinting, marks or design patterns.
- It must not display a chasing arrow resin identification code or recycling symbol.
For more guidance on how the regulations apply to products represented as compostable look at the SB23-253 flowchart at the bottom of the Compost Product labeling web page.
For more information:
Send questions or comments about the Act to [email protected]. Any person may file a complaint against a producer in violation via the online Compostable Labeling Complaint form.
