Colorado Environmental Policy: Advancing Recycling, Composting, and Climate Solutions
The 2026 legislative session is underway—and big decisions being made right now will shape how Colorado reduces waste for years to come. Eco-Cycle is spending a lot of time at the Colorado state capitol working alongside lawmakers and partner organizations to advance Zero Waste bills.
Eco-Cycle brings decades of experience to advance practical, real-world solutions that make it easier to recycle, compost, and waste less. In a time when federal environmental progress is uncertain, the policy work happening here in Colorado matters more than ever.
Our voice is made stronger by people like you—people who engage with our work and help advocate for Zero Waste bills. Be a part of the momentum by signing up for our policy alerts!
Key bills we’re focused on during the 2026 legislative session:
✅ Support Senate Bill 26-003: End-of-Life Management of Electric Vehicle Batteries
The problem:
Electric vehicles are on the rise—but what happens to their massive batteries when they wear out? Without a clear system, these batteries can become a costly and potentially hazardous waste problem, even though they contain valuable critical minerals like lithium and cobalt.
The solution:
SB26-003 would create a Producer Responsibility program requiring battery manufacturers to fund and manage a system for collecting, reusing, and recycling EV batteries. The bill prioritizes reuse and repurposing first, and requires clearer labeling to make batteries easier to handle and recycle starting in 2028. It would also establish a national model that other states could follow, making sure that valuable minerals are being recaptured into the supply chain.
Why it matters to you:
This bill, if passed, would help keep toxic materials out of landfills, recover valuable resources, and avoid passing the cost of battery disposal to taxpayers and municipalities.
Eco-Cycle’s take:
We support the intent of this bill and are actively working with partners and legislators to strengthen it. We’re advocating for amendments that ensure costs don’t fall on local governments or landfills, and that strong environmental and safety standards are in place for battery recycling. We, along with partner organizations and local governments, sent a letter to bill sponsors last week asking for these amendments.
Status: Under consideration
❌ Oppose Senate Bill 26-101 Landfill Methane Emission Reduction Regulations
The problem:
Landfills are one of the largest generators of methane—a potent greenhouse gas. Without proper regulations, landfills can release harmful air pollutants that impact nearby communities.
The solution at risk:
Last year, Colorado adopted updated, science-based regulations to better manage methane monitoring, gas destruction, and leak repair. These commonsense rules were the result of over a year of collaboration between industry, local governments, and environmental groups.
Unfortunately, a bill has been introduced that, if adopted, would undermine these new landfill methane regulations, circumventing over a year of negotiations to reach consensus and a workable compromise between landfills, local governments, environmental groups, and other impacted communities.
Why it matters to you:
Strong landfill standards help protect air quality, reduce climate pollution, and safeguard the health of communities—especially those living near landfill sites.
Eco-Cycle’s take:
We oppose SB26-101, because it would weaken these hard-won protections and create loopholes that allow landfills to avoid compliance. We’re working with coalition partners to defeat the bill or remove the provisions that would roll back these important safeguards.
Status: Under consideration
✅ Support House Bill 26-1219 Battery Assessment Submission Deadline Change
Last year, we helped pass a bill (SB25-163) to create a Producer Responsibility program that will provide safe, no-cost collection and recycling of small- and medium-format batteries statewide starting in 2028. If adopted, HB26-1219 will correct a small date error in SB25-163.
Our take: We are supporting this bill to fix a minor mistake in last year’s successful battery bill. Batteries should NEVER be put in curbside recycling. Residents can safely dispose of loose batteries at no cost at the Boulder County Hazardous Materials Management Facility, electronics with embedded batteries (like laptops and cell phones) can be recycled at the Eco-Cycle/City of Boulder Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (CHaRM).
Status: Under consideration
✅ Support House Bill 26-1132 Practices to Support Pollinators
This bill encourages state agencies to prioritize the use of in-state sources of native plants to support pollinator habitats, establish a training program for land managers, and integrate mowing and grazing practices from a 2022 Department of Natural Resources study. The bill will also require a study that assesses Colorado’s native plant supply chain to recommend actions to make more plants available.
Our take: Eco-Cycle’s composting and engagement teams are working to implement nature-based solutions in partnership with the City of Boulder’s Cool Boulder Program. We know that thriving ecosystems begin with healthy, nutrient-rich soils, and we support this bill as an effort to improve practices so that native plants and pollinators can flourish.
Status: Under consideration
✅ Support House Bill 26-1111 Pesticide Product Disposal and Container Recycling
Pesticides come in containers that cannot be disposed of in curbside recycling. If adopted, this bill will create a Producer Responsibility program, run by the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA), to collect and recycle pesticide containers. CDA will work with communities and household hazardous waste facilities to offer collection programs around the state, providing a safe and responsible way for farmers, landscaping companies, and other commercial and private entities to dispose of pesticide containers at a much lower cost than they pay now.
Our take: We support this bill to create a safe and responsible disposal system for pesticide containers. Eco-Cycle testified in support of the bill and an expected amendment to align the definition of recycling with other state laws.
Status: Under consideration
✅ Support Senate Bill 26-016 Prohibit Discharge Preproduction Plastic Materials
This bill preempts the State from awarding permits to discharge plastic pellets—the material that plastics are made from—into waterways or on land. While this action is already against federal law, the bill would make it clear that plastic pellets spilled in Colorado would need to be cleaned up.
Our take: We support the idea that plastic pellets should not be spilled into our waterways. Eco-Cycle worked with the sponsors of the bill to amend language that could have created unintended consequences for recyclers.
Status: Passed both houses, awaiting the governor’s signature
With two more months left in Colorado’s Legislative Session, we know there is more action to come on Zero Waste policies. We’ll keep you posted on these bills and others we expect to be introduced.
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