NWRA State Update: Colorado Bill Proposing Fees on Takeout Containers Moves to Committee on Finance

NWRA State Update: Colorado Bill Proposing Fees on Takeout Containers Moves to Committee on Finance

Senate Bill 180 sponsored by Sen. Kevin Priola (D-25), Rep. Shannon Bird (D-35) and Rep. Briana Titone (D-27) passed the Business, Labor, & Technology Committee with a vote of 5 to 2 on March 22 and is now referred to the Committee on Finance. This bill would create the Colorado recycling and composting infrastructure enterprise, which would impose a fee on foodservice packaging that is initially sold or offered for sale in the state. This money would support recycling efforts within the state.

According to the bill, the fees will be imposed as follows:

On and after January 1, 2022, and until January 1, 2030, the enterprise shall impose a fee in an amount to be determined by the enterprise but which may not exceed three-tenths of a cent on each unit of the foodservice packaging; On and after January 1, 2030, and until January 1, 2035, if the foodservice packaging is a type of foodservice packaging for which the commission has calculated a recycling or composting rate that is less than 50 percent, the enterprise shall impose a fee in an amount to be determined by the enterprise but which may not exceed six-tenths of a cent on each unit of the foodservice packaging; and On and after January 1, 2035, if the foodservice packaging is a type of foodservice packaging for which the commission has calculated a recycling or composting rate that is less than 75 percent, the enterprise shall impose a fee in an amount to be determined by the enterprise but which may not exceed one cent on each unit of the foodservice packaging.