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With CO free recycling rollout in motion, facilities prepare for more material<\/p>\n
Similar to plans in other states, the companies producing recyclable material like cardboard will now have to pay for the cost of recycling services in Colorado, instead of households or communities. <\/p>\n
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: <\/b>AI robots kick Denver’s recycling into high gear<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n
CDPHE has designated Circular Action Alliance (CAA)<\/a> as the Producer Responsibility Organization to carry out the program. The non-profit funds and manages the program by collecting dues from producers in order to reimburse local governments and private businesses\u2019 recycling service costs.<\/p>\n
Interchange 360 is another Producer Responsibility Organization handling containers not accepted by traditional household recycling, like motor oil and antifreeze containers.<\/p>\n
The CDPHE said the plan includes \u201ca statewide public education and outreach campaign on recycling,\u201d and CAA is \u201cin the early stages of executing\u201d some reimbursement contracts for residential recycling.<\/p>\n
The department said those reimbursements will start later this year, with exact timing dependent on factors like where people live and \u201cthe availability of recycling services and infrastructure in those areas,\u201d adding that some rural areas \u201cwill require infrastructure improvements before they can receive the full benefits of this program.\u201d<\/p>\n
Infrastructure improvements are already happening in the Denver metro area. Denver\u2019s Republic Services recycling facility is leaning into artificial intelligence robot technology to more efficiently sort materials.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen people understand that recycling is free, we’re going to see the volumes go up,\u201d Republic Services General Manager for Post Collection Operations Steve Derus told Denver7 last month<\/a>. \u201cLandfills have limited capacity, they’re very expensive to expand or build new ones. So the more we can keep out of landfills by running facilities like this, the sustainability circular economy just grows and grows, and that’s what we want to be part of.\u201d<\/p>\n