Colorado's Plastic Recycling Efforts: How Effective Are They?

Colorado is one of the most environmentally conscious states in the US, and it is continuously looking for ways to reduce its carbon footprint. While the state has been actively promoting and encouraging its citizens to reduce, reuse, and recycle, its recycling rate remains poor and stagnant. In 2023, the state's recycling and composting rate was 16%, half of the national average, and it has not improved over the last seven years. However, Colorado has implemented several initiatives to increase the amount of plastic that is recycled and is exploring ways to improve its recycling infrastructure.

Colorado's plastic recycling rate

Colorado has been actively promoting and encouraging its citizens to reduce, reuse, and recycle for many years. The state has implemented several initiatives to raise awareness about the importance of recycling and has made it easier for its citizens to do so. Many communities throughout the state offer residential curbside collection of plastic containers and other plastic materials such as cups, bags, and film. In addition, many retailers and businesses also offer plastic recycling.

Despite these efforts, Colorado's recycling rate remains poor and stagnant. The State of Recycling and Composting report from Eco-Cycle and the Colorado Public Interest Research Group (CoPIRG) shows the state recycling rate remaining unchanged for the seventh year at 16%, half the national average. This means that 84% of the waste produced in Colorado goes into landfills.

In 2017, the state's Solid & Hazardous Waste Commission passed a resolution to get the state to a 45% diversion or recycling rate by 2036, with a 51% goal for the Front Range. However, there are no penalties in place for not meeting this goal.

Colorado's legislature recently passed House Bill 1355, which establishes producer responsibility for companies that sell containers, packaging, and paper. This policy is expected to raise more money to fund recycling systems and drive down costs, especially in rural areas.

Plastic waste reduction initiatives

Colorado has been actively promoting and encouraging its citizens to reduce, reuse, and recycle for many years. The state has implemented several initiatives to raise awareness about the importance of recycling and has made it easier for its citizens to do so.

Despite these efforts, statistics show that only 5-9% of plastic is recycled globally, with the remaining majority being sent to landfills. In 2018, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimated a slightly higher rate of 9% for that year, but this number decreased to 5% according to researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in 2019. These low rates of plastic recycling are due to the fact that many plastics are difficult or impossible to recycle, and some single-use plastics rely on chemical recycling, which is not yet scalable in the United States.

To address this issue, Colorado has introduced the Plastic Pollution Reduction Act (PPRA), also known as House Bill 21-1162, which was passed in 2021. The act aims to reduce and mitigate plastic pollution in the state. Phase 1 of the PPRA, which began on January 1, 2023, required large retailers in Colorado to charge a minimum fee of $0.10 per paper and plastic checkout bag. This fee is intended to pave the way for a complete ban on plastic bags in 2024 (Phase 2 of the act). The fee is waived for customers enrolled in state or federal food assistance programs. By implementing this fee, Colorado municipalities, retailers, and food establishments are taking steps to reduce plastic bag use and protect the state's natural resources from plastic pollution.

In addition to the PPRA, Colorado has implemented other initiatives to reduce plastic waste. Many communities throughout the state offer residential curbside collection of plastic containers, cups, bags, and film. Retailers and businesses also provide plastic recycling options. The state encourages its counties, cities, and towns to create and expand their plastic recycling programs to keep plastic waste out of landfills. The City of Denver, for example, has made it more convenient for citizens to participate in its recycling program by offering weekly collection.

Furthermore, Colorado's legislature passed House Bill 1355, which establishes producer responsibility for companies that sell containers, packaging, and paper. This bill, along with other initiatives, demonstrates Colorado's commitment to reducing its carbon footprint and finding ways to decrease plastic waste.

Plastic recycling challenges

Plastic recycling is a complex process that involves multiple stakeholders, including governments, intergovernmental organizations, the private sector, and citizens. Despite the environmental and economic benefits of recycling, several challenges exist that hinder the effectiveness and efficiency of plastic recycling processes.

One of the primary challenges in plastic recycling is the variety of plastic types and their unique properties. Plastic is not a single material but a collective name for several hundred different kinds of materials, each with distinct characteristics that affect their color, shape, structure, and melting point. This complexity necessitates meticulous sorting and categorization to maintain the purity of the recycled plastic. Different types of plastic are often combined in manufacturing, making recycling more difficult and leading to incineration or landfill disposal, which wastes valuable resources.

Another challenge arises from the design of plastic products. Many products are manufactured in ways that make it challenging to separate and recycle the plastic content. For instance, different plastic types may be mixed or bonded with other materials such as glue or metal, making it difficult to extract the plastic for recycling. This issue can be addressed by considering recycling objectives during the product design stage, making it easier to disassemble products into recyclable waste fractions.

The recycling process itself faces several obstacles. Firstly, there is a lack of collaboration within the product chain, including raw material suppliers, subcontractors, and manufacturers. This lack of coordination hinders the development of efficient recycling solutions. Additionally, the high demand for plastics creates significant plastic waste, and improper waste management can lead to plastic pollution, especially in coastal areas. Moreover, the economics of recycling can be challenging, especially in emerging markets. Low landfill fees and the cost of sorting and collecting recyclable materials can discourage recycling efforts, as it may be cheaper to dump waste instead.

Furthermore, the recycling sector faces technological challenges. Many plastics are difficult or impossible to recycle due to their size or composition. Single-use plastics, for example, often require chemical recycling, which is not yet widely available at scale in some countries. Additionally, different types of plastic are often incompatible with each other due to molecular differences, further complicating the recycling process.

To overcome these challenges, a comprehensive approach involving various stakeholders is necessary. Governments, intergovernmental organizations, and the private sector must work together to establish complete waste management systems, provide incentives for recycling, and address funding and infrastructure gaps, especially in emerging economies. Collaboration within the product chain is essential to finding innovative solutions, and product design should incorporate environmental considerations to enhance recyclability.

Recycling contamination

Colorado is one of the most environmentally conscious states in the US, and it has been actively promoting and encouraging its citizens to reduce, reuse, and recycle. The state has implemented several initiatives to raise awareness of the importance of recycling and has made it easier for its citizens to do so. Many communities throughout the state offer residential curbside collection of plastic containers and other plastic materials such as cups, bags, and film. In addition, many retailers and businesses also offer plastic recycling.

Other common contaminants include plastic lids, chip bags, Styrofoam, and other plastics not listed in recycling guidelines, which must be thrown away. Frozen food boxes, made from paper and plastic resin, can contaminate the paper stream. Wrappers, made from a mix of cellophane, plastics, and aluminum, cannot be effectively recycled by facilities, although some companies use them to create new products.

The future of plastic recycling

One key challenge is the incompatibility of different types of plastics, which makes sorting costly and inefficient. Most recycling facilities can only process PET (#1) and HDPE (#2) plastics, while many single-use plastics require chemical recycling, which is not yet widely available at scale. Additionally, the economics of recycling are often stacked against success, with virgin plastic being cheaper than recycled plastic due to fossil fuel subsidies. This price disparity discourages the use of recycled materials. Furthermore, the rise of flexible packaging, such as multi-layered snack packets, presents challenges due to contamination and complex composition.

However, there are also positive developments that could improve plastic recycling rates. For example, advancements in technology, such as robotic arms built by AMP Robotics in Boulder, Colorado, have helped recycling facilities run more efficiently and recycle more types of materials. Additionally, some governments and organizations are implementing initiatives and policies to promote recycling. In Colorado, the state legislature passed House Bill 1355, which establishes producer responsibility for companies selling containers, packaging, and paper, which is expected to increase funding for recycling systems. The state has also made efforts to educate citizens on proper recycling practices and provide resources like collection centers.

To further improve plastic recycling rates, systemic change is required. This includes addressing the root causes of plastic waste, such as our reliance on cheap and convenient single-use plastics, and promoting more sustainable alternatives. Policies and innovations that drive down the cost of recycling and make it more accessible, especially in rural areas, will also be crucial. By learning from successful recycling schemes in countries like Germany, which recycles 70% of its waste, other countries can work towards reducing their plastic waste and creating a more sustainable future.

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