At the Littleton City Council meeting, Littleton city staff outlined a two-part waste-diversion plan for the council. The proposal includes establishing a hauler licensing system and implementing an Equal Space ordinance to guarantee that new developments allocate sufficient room for both trash and recycling collection.
“The goal is to regulate haulers that collect and transport solid waste for residents and businesses,” said Laura Rosenbaum, the city’s sustainability coordinator. She added the benefits of the licensing program can increase recycling access, make greenhouse gas inventory data more accurate, and standardize reporting on hauler metrics, including vehicle counts, tonnage, and disposal destinations, while taking advantage of Colorado’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation.
Under the Colorado law, manufacturers of packaging and paper goods must finance a statewide recycling network. Through this initiative, the Circular Action Alliance (CAA) will cover costs for participating local governments and waste management firms, eliminating recycling fees for residents.