Front Range Waste Diversion Enterprise Grant Program

Waste diversion - front range waste diversion enterprise created - increased waste diversion goals established - new tipping fee - grant program. Section 1 of the act creates the front range waste diversion enterprise. The enterprise will collect a user fee on each load of waste disposed of at a landfill in the front range and credit the fee to the new front range waste diversion cash fund to finance the front range waste diversion grant program. Section 2 sets the user fee at 15 cents per cubic yard per load from January 1, 2020, through December 31, 2020. The fee increases 15 cents per year so that on and after January 1, 2023, the fee is 60 cents per cubic yard per load; except that this amount is adjusted annually by inflation after January 1, 2024. Section 3 adjusts the fine amount for littering on public or private property annually, commencing on January 1, 2020, by inflation and credits the increased amount of the fine to the fund. The front range is defined as the counties of Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Douglas, Elbert, El Paso, Jefferson, Larimer, Pueblo, Teller, and Weld and the cities and counties of Broomfield and Denver. The following entities that are located or provide services in the front range are eligible to apply for grants: Municipalities, counties, and cities and counties; nonprofit and for-profit businesses involved in waste disposal or diversion; and institutions of higher education and public or private schools. The enterprise shall administer the grant program and provide technical assistance to eligible entities to achieve the following municipal waste diversion goals within the front range: 32% diversion by 2021; 39% diversion by 2026; and 51% diversion by 2036. The board of directors of the enterprise shall submit a report by July 1 of each year to the committees of reference of the general assembly with jurisdiction over the environment regarding the grant program. The enterprise, increased user fee, and increased amount of the littering fine are repealed, effective September 1, 2029. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More