§ 25-16.5-112. Recycling Market Development Center – Definitions – Repeal

1. The department shall convene stakeholders to inform the department regarding a structure and governing guidance for a recycling market development center, referred to in this section as the “center”, to support the development of end-market businesses within the state by achieving the goals of the center as specified in subsection (3) of this section. In convening stakeholders, the department shall include a broad range of expertise, including:
   1. Institutions of higher education;
   2. Experts in recycling various types of materials, including construction and demolition waste, organics, textiles, electronics, plastics, fiber, glass, aluminum, and metals;
   3. Waste haulers;
   4. Material recovery facility operators;
   5. Brokers; and
   6. Others.
2. The department, in collaboration with the stakeholders, shall:
   1. Review what other states have done to create recycling market development centers;
   2. Explore funding opportunities for the center, both private and public; and
   3. Report to the general assembly’s committees with jurisdiction over solid waste and recycling on the recommended structure, stakeholder engagement policies, and center governing guidance by July 1, 2021.
3. The goals of the center are to assist existing and new end-market recycling businesses that process or reuse recyclable materials into new products sold or otherwise furnished to end users by:
   1. Evaluating the short- and long-term capacity of existing markets to use the current and future quantities of recyclable materials and opportunities to expand existing markets;
   2. Identifying potential end-market business targets and feasible incentives that the state may offer to bring these businesses to Colorado;
   3. Developing a recyclable material database to identify how much recyclable material is available and from what sources and regions;
   4. Recommending state and local policies to increase the supply of recyclable materials to support end-market businesses;
   5. Connecting end-market businesses with funding assistance including grants, loans, and tax breaks available through the Colorado office of economic development created in section 24-48.5-101, the department, and other sources and expanding and diversifying these funding sources;
   6. Providing material-specific research and business development assistance for new and expanded end-market businesses to create and expand recycling processing infrastructure;
   7. Recommending public outreach campaigns, which may be material-specific, to increase the supply and quality of recyclable materials; and
   8. Integrating the center’s efforts with the state solid waste plan developed pursuant to section 30-20-100.5 (1)(d)(II) and the climate action plan developed pursuant to section 24-20-111 (2)(a).
4. As used in this section:
   1. “End-market business” means a business, or a portion of a business, that processes recyclable materials or reuses recyclable materials in new products sold or otherwise furnished to end users.
   2. “Recyclable materials”:
      1. Means any type of discarded or waste material that is not regulated under section 25-8-205 (1)(e) and can be reused, remanufactured, reclaimed, or recycled, including compostable organic material and construction and demolition materials; and
      2. Does not include industrial materials, paint, or a waste tire as defined in section 30-20-1402 (12).
5. This section is repealed, effective September 1, 2022.

Source: L. 2020: Entire section added, (SB 20-055), ch. 289, p. 1428, § 1, effective September 14.