SB 23-191

Senate Bill 23-191, which has been approved and is now in effect, requires the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to study how diverting organic waste from landfills could benefit the environment. The bill aims to explore existing projects, assess infrastructure needs, and recommend policies for local governments to implement organics diversion programs. This will help cities and towns understand what kind of facilities they need to build or improve to handle organic waste more effectively. The department must submit a report with their findings by August 1, 2024.

Official Summary

The act requires the department of public health and environment (department) to study the impacts, benefits, and feasibility of requiring diversion of organic materials from landfills. The organics diversion study (study) must: Incorporate and utilize data contained in the statewide organics management plan and other existing Colorado studies and research from other states; Explore how to leverage existing organics diversion projects in Colorado to inform implementation of broader organics diversion projects across the state; Evaluate the environmental benefits of diversion of organic materials from landfills; Review and identify the infrastructure needed to enable diversion of organic materials from landfills and create a plan for infrastructure development; Create actionable parameters for local governments to use to determine if, where, and what types of organics processing infrastructure is needed and basic toolkits to help local governments build the infrastructure; Outline and recommend policies and regulations that would enable diversion of organic materials from landfills; Assess informational resources necessary to enable diversion of organic materials from landfills; and Identify opportunities for end-market development of organic materials diverted from landfills. On or before August 1, 2024, the department is required to submit a report of the study's research and findings to specified legislative committees of reference. The act authorizes the use of money in the front range waste diversion cash fund and the recycling resources economic opportunity fund to pay for costs associated with conducting the study. APPROVED by Governor May 17, 2023 EFFECTIVE May 17, 2023 (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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