Free Curbside Recycling
Lakewood residents will soon have access to free curbside recycling!
This service is made possible through a statewide law that shifts the cost of recycling from residents and local governments to the companies that produce and sell packaging. Additionally, it creates incentives for companies to design packaging that is more recyclable and reusable.
The law created Colorado’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Program, which reimburses service providers like waste haulers, cities, nonprofits and recycling centers for the net cost of recycling services through fees paid by the producers creating the waste stream. This reimbursement to haulers allows curbside recycling services to be free to residents.
However, participation in the EPR program is voluntary for waste haulers. Without a local requirement, a hauler could choose not to participate and continue charging customers for recycling services.
To help ensure Lakewood residents receive these benefits, the City is proposing updates to its hauler licensing requirements. Waste haulers operating in Lakewood are required to obtain a city license and comply with local standards that help protect residents, neighborhoods, and public health. Under the proposed changes, any licensed waste hauler that offers residential recycling in Lakewood would be required to participate in Colorado's EPR program and provide recycling services at no charge to residents, since those costs are reimbursed through the new EPR program.
What does this mean for residents?
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When? Free recycling service is expected to begin rolling out as early as winter 2026–2027. Timing will vary by hauler, and some may begin offering free recycling sooner than others. Once a participating hauler has finalized its agreement with the program administrator, Circular Action Alliance, residents will no longer be charged separately for recycling service.
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How? The city is not involved in the relationship between the hauler and their customers. Your waste hauler will provide information about service availability, enrollment, and start dates as they become available.
What are the goals of EPR in Colorado?
Colorado’s Extended Producer Responsibility Program is designed to accomplish the following goals across the entire state:
- Expand access to and participation in curbside and drop off recycling services.
- Reduce or remove recycling costs for residents and local governments.
- Standardize statewide what items are accepted for recycling, making recycling easier and less confusing.
- Standardize education about what can be recycled.
- Increase recycling rates and enhance recycling infrastructure.
- Encourage producers to use more sustainable packaging.
What is Lakewood doing to prepare for EPR?
1.Updating hauler licensing requirements to ensure access to free recycling
Participation in Colorado's EPR program is voluntary for waste haulers. Without a local code update, a hauler could choose not to participate and continue charging residents for recycling services.
To help ensure Lakewood residents receive the benefits of Colorado's new EPR program, City Council will be presented with updates for the city’s hauler licensing requirements. Under the proposed changes, licensed haulers that offer residential recycling in Lakewood would be required to participate in the EPR program in order to provide recycling services that are funded through the program at no cost to residents.
Most haulers currently operating in Lakewood have indicated they plan to participate in EPR and support this requirement. If approved, their participation in EPR will be required to be licensed to operate in the city. This will ensure residents are not charged separately for recycling services that are funded through the statewide EPR program.
2. Seeking funding for recycling and public education
The EPR program provides funding opportunities not only for recycling service providers, but also for local governments.
Lakewood has applied for funding to help cover operating costs at the Quail Street Recycling Center, as well as eligible education and outreach activities that will help residents understand and participate in the new recycling system.
By pursuing these opportunities, Lakewood is working to maximize the benefits of EPR for residents while supporting convenient, accessible recycling services throughout the community.
Will the Quail Street Recycling Center remain open?
Yes. Lakewood has applied for EPR funding to support operations at the Quail Street Recycling Center, saving taxpayer dollars. Additional information about accepted materials will be provided as the program rolls out.
Will my waste hauler be required to offer free recycling?
If Lakewood updates its hauler licensing requirements as proposed, any licensed waste hauler that provides residential curbside recycling in Lakewood will be required to participate in Colorado's EPR program and provide residents free curbside recycling.
Will all waste haulers be required to offer recycling if they don’t already?
No. The proposed code update would not require waste haulers to begin offering recycling service if they do not already do so.
However, with the proposed licensing code updates, if a hauler chooses to provide residential curbside recycling service in Lakewood, they would be required to participate in the EPR program and provide recycling services at no charge to residents.
What happens if Lakewood does not update its code?
Without a local code update, participation in the EPR program would remain voluntary for haulers. If a hauler that offers recycling chooses not to participate in EPR, residents would continue to pay for recycling service.
By updating its hauler licensing requirements, Lakewood can help ensure that all licensed haulers offering residential recycling participate in EPR and pass the benefits of the program on to residents through free curbside recycling.
Has there been public discussion of these potential code changes?
Yes. These potential hauler licensing code changes have been discussed publicly since fall 2025 by the City Council Ad Hoc Sustainability Committee, now known as the Sustainability Advisory Committee.
All meetings have been open to the public and recorded, and the committee has discussed how Lakewood can help ensure residents receive the benefits of Colorado's new EPR program, including free curbside recycling.
Staff have also engaged with local waste haulers throughout the process to better understand potential impacts and avoid unintended consequences. Haulers have generally been supportive of the proposed changes and indicated their intent to participate in the EPR program.
How does the funding work?
Circular Action Alliance (CAA), the nonprofit operating Colorado’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program, collects fees from producers, the companies that make and sell packaging and paper products.
CAA then uses those funds to reimburse participating recycling service providers, including local governments and recycling haulers, for eligible recycling costs.
As a result, residents will not be charged separately for recycling services that are funded through the EPR program.
Am I required to recycle?
No, residents do not have to recycle or use a hauler that offers recycling.
Does this include composting or trash?
No, this program funds recycling only.
Is Colorado the first to adopt an EPR law?
No, many states have adopted EPR. There is a map here of those states. In fact, Colorado already has had a successful EPR law for paint since 2014, which is why you can recycle paint for free at many convenient drop-off locations.
Does this include multifamily residences?
Yes, multifamily housing is considered residential in this program.
If the code passes, will there be a deadline for my hauler to stop charging for recycling?
Yes, the deadline will be codified in the hauler licensing code.
Additional Resources
To learn more about the EPR program check out these websites:
RecycleOn.org/Colorado - Colorado's public education website for recycling. Learn what can and cannot be recycled, how Colorado's new recycling system works, and how the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program is expanding recycling across the state.
CircularActionAlliance.org - Circular Action Alliance (CAA) is the nonprofit organization selected by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to administer Colorado's EPR program for packaging and paper products. CAA works with producers, recycling providers, local governments, and other partners to implement the program, including collecting fees from producers and reimbursing eligible recycling services.
CPHE.Colorado.gov - The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) is the state agency responsible for overseeing and implementing Colorado's EPR law. CDPHE establishes program requirements, provides regulatory oversight, and ensures the program is administered in accordance with state law. CDPHE selected and oversees Circular Action Alliance (CAA), the organization responsible for administering the program.
Contact
For general questions, reach out to ZeroWaste@LakewoodCo.Gov.
For questions about when or if your waste hauler will participate, please wait for more information from them in the fall, or reach out to your hauler directly.