# What is flat dues? Last verified: November 5, 2026 · https://instica.com/epr/glossary/flat-dues 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). > Producers who supply 10 tons or less of covered materials into the state are eligible to pay flat dues according to the following schedule > > Source: circularactionalliance.org (https://circularactionalliance.org/s/CO-2026-Dues-Schedule-Public.pdf), Retrieved: September 29, 2026, Language: en ## 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. **Jurisdictions where flat dues applies** | Jurisdiction | Producer duty | Regulator | Verified | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Colorado](https://instica.com/epr/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). > In 2022, Governor Polis signed the Producer Responsibility Program for Statewide Recycling Act into law > > Source: cdphe.colorado.gov (https://cdphe.colorado.gov/producer-responsibility-program), Retrieved: September 29, 2026, Language: en ## Which terms are related to flat dues? 3 related terms help explain flat dues. Each links to its own entry. - [simplified report](https://instica.com/epr/glossary/simplified-report) - [eco-modulation](https://instica.com/epr/glossary/eco-modulation) - [de minimis producer](https://instica.com/epr/glossary/de-minimis-producer) ## Which Instica pages use flat dues? This jurisdiction page puts flat dues into practice, with thresholds, deadlines and fees. - [Colorado EPR rules](https://instica.com/epr/colorado) - [Check whether you owe](https://instica.com/epr/do-i-owe) ## 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 > **Estimate**: Instica measures, estimates and prepares. These pages describe published rules and rates with their sources and retrieval dates, and an estimate is never a filing. You review, sign and submit your own reports. Read the methodology page for how figures are sourced and checked, and confirm any value with the regulator or your producer responsibility organisation before you rely on it. ## Facts on this page Each fact is a self-contained sentence with its source. Link to a fact with its anchor. - 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). [#glossary-flat-dues-definition](#glossary-flat-dues-definition) Value: 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: https://circularactionalliance.org/s/CO-2026-Dues-Schedule-Public.pdf · Retrieved: September 29, 2026 · Status: verified Verbatim quote: Producers who supply 10 tons or less of covered materials into the state are eligible to pay flat dues according to the following schedule (en) - 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). [#us-co-regime](#us-co-regime) Value: Colorado Producer Responsibility Program for Statewide Recycling Act, C.R.S. 25-17-701 et seq. (HB22-1355) · Source: https://cdphe.colorado.gov/producer-responsibility-program · Retrieved: September 29, 2026 · Status: verified Verbatim quote: In 2022, Governor Polis signed the Producer Responsibility Program for Statewide Recycling Act into law (en) - 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). [#us-co-regulator](#us-co-regulator) Value: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), Solid Waste and Materials Management Program · Source: https://cdphe.colorado.gov/producer-responsibility-program · Retrieved: September 29, 2026 · Status: verified Verbatim quote: CDPHE appointed Circular Action Alliance as the designated Producer Responsibility Organization in May 2023. (en) - Producers that place packaging on the market in Colorado carry a producer responsibility duty (Source: cdphe.colorado.gov, retrieved September 29, 2026). [#us-co-obligated](#us-co-obligated) Value: yes · Source: https://cdphe.colorado.gov/producer-responsibility-program · Retrieved: September 29, 2026 · Status: verified Verbatim quote: a producer cannot sell or distribute products that use covered materials in Colorado unless they participate in the Producer Responsibility Program (en) - 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). [#us-co-organisation](#us-co-organisation) Value: several competing organisations · Source: https://cdphe.colorado.gov/producer-responsibility-program · Retrieved: September 29, 2026 · Status: verified Verbatim quote: Interchange 360 manages the recycling of automotive lubricant packaging, such as motor oil and antifreeze. (en) - Producers must register in Colorado; the registry is Circular Action Alliance producer portal (Source: cdphe.colorado.gov, retrieved September 29, 2026). [#us-co-registration](#us-co-registration) Value: yes · Source: https://cdphe.colorado.gov/producer-responsibility-program · Retrieved: September 29, 2026 · Status: verified Verbatim quote: All producers of paper products and packaging materials should register with Circular Action Alliance and submit a supply report. (en) - 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). [#us-co-thresholds-small-producer-revenue](#us-co-thresholds-small-producer-revenue) Value: $5,000,000 · Source: https://colorado.public.law/statutes/crs_25-17-713 · Retrieved: September 29, 2026 · Status: verified Verbatim quote: A person with less than five million dollars in realized gross total revenue, not including on-premises alcohol sales, during the prior calendar year (en) - 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). [#us-co-thresholds-small-producer-tonnage](#us-co-thresholds-small-producer-tonnage) Value: 1 · Source: https://colorado.public.law/statutes/crs_25-17-713 · Retrieved: September 29, 2026 · Status: verified Verbatim quote: has used less than one ton of covered materials for products sold or distributed within or into the state (en) - 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). [#us-co-thresholds-flat-dues-ceiling](#us-co-thresholds-flat-dues-ceiling) Value: 10 · Source: https://circularactionalliance.org/s/CO-2026-Dues-Schedule-Public.pdf · Retrieved: September 29, 2026 · Status: verified Verbatim quote: Producers who supply 10 tons or less of covered materials into the state are eligible to pay flat dues according to the following schedule (en) - 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). [#us-co-exemptions-statutory-exemptions](#us-co-exemptions-statutory-exemptions) Value: statutory_exemptions · Source: https://colorado.public.law/statutes/crs_25-17-713 · Retrieved: September 29, 2026 · Status: verified Verbatim quote: A producer is exempt from the requirements of this part 7 if the producer is (en) - In Colorado, a payment deadline falls on January 1, 2026, covering program year 2026 (Source: colorado.public.law, retrieved September 29, 2026). [#us-co-deadlines-dues-2026](#us-co-deadlines-dues-2026) Value: January 1, 2026 · Source: https://colorado.public.law/statutes/crs_25-17-709 · Retrieved: September 29, 2026 · Status: verified Verbatim quote: no later than January 1, 2026, and annually thereafter by a date determined by the organization (en) - This deadline is not yet published. Reason recorded: No Colorado report date was on the CAA or CDPHE pages read. [#us-co-deadlines-supply-report](#us-co-deadlines-supply-report) Value: not yet published · Source: https://circularactionalliance.org/producer-reporting · Retrieved: September 29, 2026 · Status: not yet published Verbatim quote: Report Date: The deadline by which your producer supply report must be submitted to CAA. (en) - This deadline is not yet published. Reason recorded: CDPHE gives a season, not a date. [#us-co-deadlines-plan-implementation](#us-co-deadlines-plan-implementation) Value: not yet published · Source: https://cdphe.colorado.gov/producer-responsibility-program · Retrieved: September 29, 2026 · Status: not yet published Verbatim quote: the alliance must begin implementing this plan by the summer of 2026 (en) - In Colorado, a deadline of another kind falls on January 1, 2026 (Source: colorado.public.law, retrieved September 29, 2026). [#us-co-deadlines-eco-modulation-bonus-schedule](#us-co-deadlines-eco-modulation-bonus-schedule) Value: January 1, 2026 · Source: https://colorado.public.law/statutes/crs_25-17-709 · Retrieved: September 29, 2026 · Status: verified Verbatim quote: By January 1, 2026, and each year thereafter, the executive director shall develop an eco-modulation bonus schedule (en) - 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). [#us-co-penalties](#us-co-penalties) Value: 3 · Source: https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/2022a_1355_signed.pdf · Retrieved: November 5, 2026 · Status: verified Verbatim quote: FIRST VIOLATION, AN INITIAL PENALTY OF FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THE FIRST DAY OF EACH VIOLATION AND ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS PER DAY (en) - The recycling targets is not yet published. Reason recorded: CDPHE gives a projection for the approved plan, not a statutory producer target. The statutory targets in the sections not read are unconfirmed. [#us-co-targets](#us-co-targets) Value: not yet published · Source: https://cdphe.colorado.gov/producer-responsibility-program · Retrieved: September 29, 2026 · Status: not yet published Verbatim quote: Colorado’s paper and packaging recycling rate is projected to increase from 25% to 58% by 2035 under the program. (en) - In Colorado, revenue tests use realized gross total revenue over the prior calendar year (Source: colorado.public.law, retrieved September 29, 2026). [#us-co-revenue-scope](#us-co-revenue-scope) Value: realized_gross_total_revenue · Source: https://colorado.public.law/statutes/crs_25-17-713 · Retrieved: September 29, 2026 · Status: verified Verbatim quote: in realized gross total revenue, not including on-premises alcohol sales, during the prior calendar year (en) ## Related pages ### Explore packaging EPR - [United States packaging EPR: 7 jurisdictions](https://instica.com/epr/united-states) ### More for this jurisdiction - [Colorado EPR threshold](https://instica.com/epr/colorado) ### Related pages - [Gross revenue definition](https://instica.com/epr/glossary/gross-revenue) - [Household packaging EPR](https://instica.com/epr/glossary/household-packaging) - [Importer packaging EPR](https://instica.com/epr/glossary/importer) - [Large producer definition](https://instica.com/epr/glossary/large-producer) - [Online marketplace packaging EPR](https://instica.com/epr/glossary/online-marketplace) - [UK Plastic Packaging Tax 2026](https://instica.com/epr/glossary/plastic-packaging-tax) ## Sources 1. cdphe.colorado.gov (https://cdphe.colorado.gov/producer-responsibility-program), Retrieved: September 29, 2026, Status: verified > In 2022, Governor Polis signed the Producer Responsibility Program for Statewide Recycling Act into law (en) 2. circularactionalliance.org (https://circularactionalliance.org/producer-reporting), Retrieved: September 29, 2026, Status: not yet published > Report Date: The deadline by which your producer supply report must be submitted to CAA. (en) 3. circularactionalliance.org (https://circularactionalliance.org/s/CO-2026-Dues-Schedule-Public.pdf), Retrieved: September 29, 2026, Status: verified > Producers who supply 10 tons or less of covered materials into the state are eligible to pay flat dues according to the following schedule (en) 4. colorado.public.law (https://colorado.public.law/statutes/crs_25-17-709), Retrieved: September 29, 2026, Status: verified > no later than January 1, 2026, and annually thereafter by a date determined by the organization (en) 5. colorado.public.law (https://colorado.public.law/statutes/crs_25-17-713), Retrieved: September 29, 2026, Status: verified > A person with less than five million dollars in realized gross total revenue, not including on-premises alcohol sales, during the prior calendar year (en) 6. leg.colorado.gov (https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/2022a_1355_signed.pdf), Retrieved: November 5, 2026, Status: verified > FIRST VIOLATION, AN INITIAL PENALTY OF FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THE FIRST DAY OF EACH VIOLATION AND ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS PER DAY (en) 7. cdphe.colorado.gov (https://cdphe.colorado.gov/producer-responsibility-program), Retrieved: September 29, 2026, Status: verified > CDPHE appointed Circular Action Alliance as the designated Producer Responsibility Organization in May 2023. (en) 8. cdphe.colorado.gov (https://cdphe.colorado.gov/producer-responsibility-program), Retrieved: September 29, 2026, Status: verified > a producer cannot sell or distribute products that use covered materials in Colorado unless they participate in the Producer Responsibility Program (en) 9. cdphe.colorado.gov (https://cdphe.colorado.gov/producer-responsibility-program), Retrieved: September 29, 2026, Status: verified > Interchange 360 manages the recycling of automotive lubricant packaging, such as motor oil and antifreeze. (en) 10. cdphe.colorado.gov (https://cdphe.colorado.gov/producer-responsibility-program), Retrieved: September 29, 2026, Status: verified > All producers of paper products and packaging materials should register with Circular Action Alliance and submit a supply report. (en) 11. colorado.public.law (https://colorado.public.law/statutes/crs_25-17-713), Retrieved: September 29, 2026, Status: verified > has used less than one ton of covered materials for products sold or distributed within or into the state (en) 12. colorado.public.law (https://colorado.public.law/statutes/crs_25-17-713), Retrieved: September 29, 2026, Status: verified > A producer is exempt from the requirements of this part 7 if the producer is (en) 13. colorado.public.law (https://colorado.public.law/statutes/crs_25-17-709), Retrieved: September 29, 2026, Status: verified > By January 1, 2026, and each year thereafter, the executive director shall develop an eco-modulation bonus schedule (en) 14. colorado.public.law (https://colorado.public.law/statutes/crs_25-17-713), Retrieved: September 29, 2026, Status: verified > in realized gross total revenue, not including on-premises alcohol sales, during the prior calendar year (en) ## Cite this page Instica, “What is flat dues?”, https://instica.com/epr/glossary/flat-dues, last verified 2026-11-05, dataset v1-281284b7e7c1, CC-BY-4.0. - Canonical URL: https://instica.com/epr/glossary/flat-dues - Last verified: November 5, 2026 - Last changed: November 5, 2026 - Dataset version: v1-281284b7e7c1 - Licence: Reuse is allowed under CC-BY-4.0 with credit to Instica and a link to this page. - Machine-readable versions: https://instica.com/epr/glossary/flat-dues.md · https://instica.com/epr/glossary/flat-dues.json