AF&PA Calls for Veto of Colorado EPR Bill

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The American Forest and Paper Association (AF&PA) issued a statement in response to the passage of the HB22-1355 for extended producer (EPR) scheme by the Colorado General Assembly. The statement by Terry Webber, Vice President of Industrial Affairs, AF&PA urged Colorado Governor Jared Polis to veto the EPR program for paper and packaging products.

According to the statement, Colorado’s producer responsibility program for recycling ignores the fact that paper recycling is a huge success in the state. The official data suggests that more paper by weight gets recycled from municipal waste streams every year than aluminum, glass, plastic and steel combined.

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The statement released by the association warned that the EPR scheme could shift the economic burden of new recycling regulations from municipalities to Coloradans. Moreover, the added costs would badly affect small businesses and low-income households. EPR scheme is not the right policy approach for sustainable paper products.

Based on the above, AF&PA urged Governor Polis to veto the legislation when it comes to him. Alternatively, the state should focus on addressing underfunded and underdeveloped recycling programs, it reminded.