House bill to expand recycling statewide
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) — Colorado’s Joint Budget Committee has approved a program that will expand recycling statewide.
The program, set to take effect in 2026, could potentially stop hundreds of thousands of tons of valuable materials from going into landfills.
Advocate with Environment Colorado Henry Stiles explains part of this bill and why it matters to you.
“What it does is it charges a fee for packaging, and effectively that fee sends a price signal to producers not to use as much packaging, and also at the same time the fee supports our recycling system. So, those that are paying for recycling now will no longer have to pay for it.”
Executive Director of Eco-Cycle Suzanne Jones says the plan will also improve our current recycling system.
“So, we’re bearing all of this economic value, this valuable material in landfills every year instead of recycling it and in the process creating more jobs, more economic value, and being better for the planet.”
The owner of Humpty Dumpsters in Mesa County says this program will not only benefit his business but Western Colorado as well.
“This bill will help Coloradans that can’t afford recycling services. The state will provide funding to haulers, which helps our business because we can bring in more customers that are not educated on how recycling works and how it benefits the environment.”
Before the program officially rolls out, an education campaign will take place and a list will be made of what new materials you can recycle.
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