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DENVER, CO – The House Energy & Environment Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Representative Lisa Cutter that would divert more waste from Colorado landfills and attract sustainable businesses. HB22-1159 passed by a vote of 10-2.
“We’ve made no progress in diverting waste from landfills over the last few years and this bill presents an opportunity to increase diversion rates by building a sustainable recycling-based economy,” said Rep. Lisa Cutter D-Littleton. “The Waste Diversion and Circular Economy Development Center is a win-win for Colorado: it attracts sustainable, end-market businesses and helps foster a healthier environment. We’re excited to help expand Colorado’s waste reduction market and make our state a leader in this space.”
This legislation would establish the Colorado Circular Economy Development Center, an organization housed in the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) designed to develop end-markets for materials recovered and diverted from landfills. While many incentive-based composting and recycling programs exist in the state, there is a gap in the number of Colorado businesses that will process and remanufacture those items. Currently, 88% of materials recovered from landfills in Colorado are sent out of state for processing.
In an effort to create a sustainable recycling economy, HB22-1159 would attract new end-market composting, recycling and post-consumer manufacturing businesses to Colorado. It would also assist in Colorado’s statewide goal of diverting 46% of all materials away from landfills by 2036. The bill also makes changes to the Front Range Waste Diversion grant program by removing some restrictions on waste haulers that prevent those with less capital from benefiting from the program.