The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environmentâs Hazardous Materials and 91²Ö¿â Management Division this week approved a program that will create free statewide recycling, shifting the cost to companies that produce packaging and away from residents and local governments. Itâs called the Producer Responsibility Program and is expected to begin its rollout in 2026.
The program will add recycling to an estimated 700,000 residences across Colorado, said Wolf Kray, who oversees recycling programs at the Department of Public Health and Environment. And it should eliminate recycling costs for those who already pay for curbside recycling in their cities.
âThis will be a free recycling service statewide,â Kray said. It will take several years to fully roll out the program across Colorado as cities and towns, along with trash haulers such as 91²Ö¿â Management, Republic Services and other companies, figure out the logistics.