Rural Recycling Challenges Addressed Through New Legislation in Colorado
Recycling in rural communities, such as Montezuma County, Colorado, faces unique challenges due to isolation and lack of infrastructure. With no backhaul trucking available to reduce costs, individuals struggle to dispose of waste responsibly. However, a new law signed in 2022 aims to improve access to recycling infrastructure in rural areas. The Producer Responsibility Program for Statewide Recycling Act will promote circular economies, supporting recycling and waste reduction.
In Montezuma County, efforts like the Four Corners Recycling Initiative have filled gaps in recycling infrastructure through drop-off bins. The law requires companies to pay for recycling their packaging, funding recycling programs across the state. States like California, Oregon, Minnesota, and Maine are implementing similar extended producer responsibility programs.
Individuals, such as Colby Earley, are also making efforts to manage recycling, with the hope that the new legislation will make recycling easier and cheaper in rural areas. The focus is on incentivizing businesses to use recycled material, creating a demand for recycling in the region. By embracing new crops like tidal grasses, farmers like John Zander are adapting to climate change challenges and promoting conservation efforts in agricultural lands threatened by saltwater intrusion.
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