Description

The Solid Waste and Materials Management Program of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is proposing the addition of Section 20 and minor revisions to Section 16 of the Regulations Pertaining to Solid Waste Sites and Facilities, 6 CCR 1007-2 Part 1.

Following the passage of Senate Bill 25-163 (the Battery Stewardship Act), the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) is moving forward with the rulemaking process to establish a statewide system for the safe collection, transportation, and recycling of batteries.

To ensure Colorado’s Battery Stewardship and Recycling Program implementation reflects the needs of our communities, we are hosting a series of stakeholder meetings. These sessions are an opportunity for you to provide feedback, ask questions, and offer public comment on the draft regulations.

Why this matters

The new legislation requires battery producers to fund a statewide, producer-responsible collection system by 2027. The Battery Stewardship and Recycling Program will:

• Improve public safety: Prevent fires caused by improperly discarded lithium-ion batteries in waste trucks and facilities.
• Increase accessibility: Ensure residents have convenient access to battery recycling drop-off sites, particularly in underserved communities.
• Promote sustainability: Recover valuable materials and reduce the environmental impact of battery disposal.

How to participate

We will host three virtual rulemaking stakeholder meetings. The meetings will include Spanish interpretation.

• September 30, 2026 from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm 
• October 30, 2026 from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
• December 1, 2026 from 3:00 pm- 5:00 pm

Register for the stakeholder meetings here.

Join our email list

We encourage you to review the draft regulations and participate in the upcoming stakeholder process. Your input is critical in helping us shape a program that is practical, sustainable, and effective for all Coloradans.

• The proposed regulations are available on the solid waste proposed rulemakings and stakeholder processes webpage.
• You can find current information, meeting schedules, and links to relevant materials on the Battery Stewardship and Recycling Program webpage.

In addition to providing comments at the upcoming meeting, stakeholders may submit comments on the proposed changes to cdphe.hmrecycling@state.co.uswith the subject line “Battery stewardship rulemaking (Sep 30 DRAFT) feedback”. 

A formal rulemaking hearing will take place on February 16, 2027. Please visit theSolid and Hazardous Waste Commission webpage for additional information.

We look forward to your participation and collaboration as we build this essential infrastructure for Colorado. If you have any immediate questions regarding the stakeholder process, please feel free to reach out to cdphe.hmrecycling@state.co.us or (303) 692-3381.