HB 1355 Summary: Producer Responsibility Program for Statewide Recycling

• Creates a statewide producer responsibility program requiring manufacturers and producers of packaging materials and paper products to finance recycling services in Colorado, effective July 1, 2025.

• Establishes a producer responsibility organization (nonprofit) to manage the program, funded through producer responsibility dues that vary by material type and recyclability, with an advisory board of 13 voting and 2 nonvoting members.

• Requires development of a minimum recyclable list, convenience standards for recycling access, and targets for collection rates, recycling rates, and postconsumer-recycled-content rates by January 1, 2030 and 2035.

• Implements an eco-modulation fee system that incentivizes producers to use less packaging, improve recyclability, increase recycled content, and design for reuse through fee adjustments.

• Exempts small producers (less than $5 million revenue), nonprofits, local governments, agricultural employers, retail food establishments, and construction companies; establishes enforcement mechanisms with administrative penalties up to $20,000 for violations.