What is flat dues?
Last verified
flat dues means: A fixed annual amount a small producer can pay instead of per-material fees. In Colorado, producers supplying 10 tons or less of covered materials into the state are eligible. The Instica dataset lists flat dues in 1 jurisdiction, including Colorado.
What does flat dues mean?
This is the definition Instica uses for flat dues in its EPR dataset. The wording below is checked against the source named beside it.
flat dues: A fixed annual amount a small producer can pay instead of per-material fees. In Colorado, producers supplying 10 tons or less of covered materials into the state are eligible. (Source: circularactionalliance.org, retrieved September 29, 2026).
Original wording
Producers who supply 10 tons or less of covered materials into the state are eligible to pay flat dues according to the following scheduleSource: circularactionalliance.org
Where does flat dues apply?
flat dues appears in the rules of 1 jurisdiction in the dataset. The table gives the duty and the regulator for each; the sections after it list every sourced rule.
| Jurisdiction | Producer duty | Regulator | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | Yes | Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), Solid Waste and Materials Management Program | verified Sep 29, 2026 |
Colorado: the rules behind the term
13 sourced rules for Colorado. Each statement names its source and the date Instica retrieved it, and a rule without a primary source shows as not yet published.
In Colorado, packaging producer duties rest on Colorado Producer Responsibility Program for Statewide Recycling Act, C.R.S. 25-17-701 et seq. (HB22-1355) (Source: cdphe.colorado.gov, retrieved September 29, 2026).
The regulator named for Colorado is Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), Solid Waste and Materials Management Program (Source: cdphe.colorado.gov, retrieved September 29, 2026).
Producers that place packaging on the market in Colorado carry a producer responsibility duty (Source: cdphe.colorado.gov, retrieved September 29, 2026).
Colorado organises producer duties through more than one producer responsibility organisation: Circular Action Alliance, Interchange 360 (automotive lubricant packaging, individual programme) (Source: cdphe.colorado.gov, retrieved September 29, 2026).
Producers must register in Colorado; the registry is Circular Action Alliance producer portal (Source: cdphe.colorado.gov, retrieved September 29, 2026).
In Colorado, a revenue threshold applies: below $5,000,000 (realized gross total revenue, prior calendar year, excluding on-premises alcohol sales); it exempts producers below it (Source: colorado.public.law, retrieved September 29, 2026).
In Colorado, a tonnage threshold applies: below 1 short tons (covered materials used for products sold or distributed in or into Colorado, prior calendar year); it exempts producers below it (Source: colorado.public.law, retrieved September 29, 2026).
In Colorado, a tonnage threshold applies: at or below 10 short tons (covered materials supplied into Colorado); it sets a flat-fee band (Source: circularactionalliance.org, retrieved September 29, 2026).
Colorado recognises this exemption: Exempt from Part 7: revenue under the dollar limit, under one ton of covered materials, state or local government, nonprofit, an agricultural employer with under $5 million in-state consumer sales of its own-brand farm products, a single licensed retail food establishment at a physical location, and builders, construction companies and contractors. It applies without a separate application (Source: colorado.public.law, retrieved September 29, 2026).
In Colorado, a payment deadline falls on January 1, 2026, covering program year 2026 (Source: colorado.public.law, retrieved September 29, 2026).
In Colorado, a deadline of another kind falls on January 1, 2026 (Source: colorado.public.law, retrieved September 29, 2026).
Colorado lists 3 penalty rules, the first for First violation of Part 7 by a producer or producer responsibility organization of up to $5,000 for the first day, then up to $1,500 per day the violation continues (Source: leg.colorado.gov, retrieved November 5, 2026).
In Colorado, revenue tests use realized gross total revenue over the prior calendar year (Source: colorado.public.law, retrieved September 29, 2026).
Original wording
In 2022, Governor Polis signed the Producer Responsibility Program for Statewide Recycling Act into lawSource: cdphe.colorado.gov
Which Instica pages use flat dues?
This jurisdiction page puts flat dues into practice, with thresholds, deadlines and fees.
More questions
What does flat dues mean?
flat dues means: A fixed annual amount a small producer can pay instead of per-material fees. In Colorado, producers supplying 10 tons or less of covered materials into the state are eligible. It applies in Colorado.
How to read these figures
Sources
- cdphe.colorado.gov retrieved
Original wording: In 2022, Governor Polis signed the Producer Responsibility Program for Statewide Recycling Act into law
Original wording: CDPHE appointed Circular Action Alliance as the designated Producer Responsibility Organization in May 2023.
Original wording: a producer cannot sell or distribute products that use covered materials in Colorado unless they participate in the Producer Responsibility Program
Original wording: Interchange 360 manages the recycling of automotive lubricant packaging, such as motor oil and antifreeze.
Original wording: All producers of paper products and packaging materials should register with Circular Action Alliance and submit a supply report.
- circularactionalliance.org (producer reporting) retrieved (not yet published)
Original wording: Report Date: The deadline by which your producer supply report must be submitted to CAA.
- circularactionalliance.org (2026) retrieved
Original wording: Producers who supply 10 tons or less of covered materials into the state are eligible to pay flat dues according to the following schedule
- colorado.public.law (crs 25 17 709) retrieved
Original wording: no later than January 1, 2026, and annually thereafter by a date determined by the organization
Original wording: By January 1, 2026, and each year thereafter, the executive director shall develop an eco-modulation bonus schedule
- colorado.public.law (crs 25 17 713) retrieved
Original wording: A person with less than five million dollars in realized gross total revenue, not including on-premises alcohol sales, during the prior calendar year
Original wording: has used less than one ton of covered materials for products sold or distributed within or into the state
Original wording: A producer is exempt from the requirements of this part 7 if the producer is
Original wording: in realized gross total revenue, not including on-premises alcohol sales, during the prior calendar year
- leg.colorado.gov retrieved
Original wording: FIRST VIOLATION, AN INITIAL PENALTY OF FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THE FIRST DAY OF EACH VIOLATION AND ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS PER DAY
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