Colorado EPR Guide
Producer Responsibility Program for Statewide Recycling Act (HB 22-1355, 2022)
Who is a “producer”?
Under HB 22-1355, a “producer” is determined in the following order of responsibility:
- 1Brand owner of the product sold in packaging in CO
- 2Licensee who sells under another's brand
- 3Importer of record for sale in CO
- 4Person who first distributes the item in or into CO
B2B packaging is explicitly exempt in Colorado.
What's covered
Covered
- ✓Consumer-facing packaging
- ✓Printed paper / writing paper
- ✓Food service ware
- ✓Consumer-facing shipping packaging (B2C)
Not Covered / Exempt
- ✕Small producers (<$5M realized gross revenue, CPI-adjusted, OR <1 ton of covered materials)
- ✕Commercial transport packaging (B2B)
Colorado does not currently have an active bottle bill / beverage container deposit-law exclusion.
Fee Rates (Colorado)
Simplified groupings for estimation. The official CAA schedule has 61 material categories — see the downloadable rate schedule PDF below for exact rates by material type.
| Material | Rate ($/lb) |
|---|---|
| Recyclable rigid plastic (PET, HDPE, PP) | $0.18 – $0.27 |
| Non-recyclable rigid plastic (PS, PVC, mixed) | $0.66 – $2.09 |
| Recyclable flexible plastic (HDPE/LDPE film) | $0.62 |
| Non-recyclable flexible plastic (PP film, laminates, mixed film) | $0.69 – $0.78 |
| Paper/Fiber (corrugated cardboard) | $0.10 |
| Paper/Fiber (paperboard, printed & packaging) | $0.09 – $0.36 |
| Glass bottles and jars | $0.05 |
| Aluminum (containers, foil, other) | $0.05 – $0.39 |
| Steel/tin (containers, other) | $0.11 – $0.41 |
✓ Published rates. Download official rate schedule (PDF) →
Calculate Your Colorado Fees →Flat Fee Option
Optional flat rate for low-volume producers (≤10 short tons/year). Does not vary by material category — pays one annual fee regardless of material mix. Updated for 2027.
| Annual Supply (short tons) | Flat Fee |
|---|---|
| 1 – 2.5 short tons | $900 |
| 2.5 – 5 short tons | $1,800 |
| 5 – 7.5 short tons | $2,900 |
| 7.5 – 10 short tons | $4,100 |
When does the flat fee save money? At 2.5 short tons (5,000 lbs) with an average 2027 dues rate of $0.36/lb, per-pound dues would be ~$1,800 — equal to the $1,800 flat fee. Producers with predominantly paper/fiber or MRL metals (low dues rates) may pay less per-pound than the flat fee.
Eco-Modulation Factors
Credits (reduce fees)
Applied to materials with high recycling rates (shown as Recycling Bonus in fee schedule)
Four active eco-modulation incentives to be published by CAA; may include PCR, standardized packaging, and label credits
Maluses (increase fees)
Automatically applied to materials that disrupt recycling processes
AML materials priced at least 20% higher than similar MRL materials; N/C materials at least 10% higher than similar AML
Key Deadlines
| Date | What's Due | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2024 | Producer registration deadline | PASSED |
| Jul 31, 2025 | Annual Supply Report (CY 2024 data) | PASSED |
| Jan 1, 2026 | First fees due | PASSED |
| May 31, 2026 | Annual Supply Report (CY 2025 data) + Mandatory PCR reporting | PASSED |
| Jul 30, 2026 | Second 50% installment due for 2026 Program Year dues (based on CY 2024 data) | PASSED |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Ongoing fee invoices | FUTURE |
| May 31, 2027 | Annual Supply Report (CY 2026 data) | FUTURE |
| Jul 1, 2027 | Ongoing fee invoices | FUTURE |
Official Resources
Check your Colorado coverage
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