Pouches EPR fees Colorado: what a stand-up pouch costs per 1,000 packs, 2027
Last verified
In Colorado, 1,000 stand-up pouches of the Medium (about 8 to 12 oz) size (12 g) carry an estimated packaging fee of $16.40 to $18.25 on the 2027 schedule. The range comes from the published rates of Circular Action Alliance (Colorado PRO) that fit each part of the pack. Instica estimates it; you confirm the weights, then sign and submit.
What this page estimates for a stand-up pouch in Colorado
The stand-up pouch on this page is a flexible stand-up pouch of layered plastic film that holds food, supplements, pet treats or powders. It has one component, each matched to the published rates of the 2027 schedule of Circular Action Alliance (Colorado PRO) for Colorado; weight times rate gives a fee per 1,000 packs in USD. The figures are estimates built on starting weights.
What is in a stand-up pouch
The pouch is one flexible plastic component. A zip, spout or valve is part of the same weighed unit in the starting estimate.
Starting weights, an Instica estimate for a typical pack and not a measured weight: pouch (plastic film, 12 g).
- Pouch
- plastic film, 12 g (Instica starting estimate)
Worked example: 1,000 stand-up pouches in Colorado
One stand-up pouch of the Medium (about 8 to 12 oz) size weighs 12 g in total. For each component the table gives its weight, the matched published rates, and the fee for 1,000 packs.
| Component | Weight each | Matched published rate | Fee per 1,000 packs | Fee per pack |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pouch | 12 g | HDPE (#2)/LDPE (#4) Flexible and Film Items to PP (#5) Flexible and Film Items | $16.40 to $18.25 | $0.0164 to $0.0183 |
Colorado: 1,000 stand-up pouches of the Medium (about 8 to 12 oz) size are estimated at $16.40 to $18.25 in packaging fees.
Added together, the estimate for 1,000 packs is $16.40 to $18.25.
Divide by 1,000 for a single pack: about $0.0164 to $0.0183.
What the fee tool returns for 1,000 stand-up pouches in Colorado
Entered into the public fee tool for Colorado (2027 schedule, effective January 1, 2027), 1,000 stand-up pouches give the figures below. The tool is the same engine that prices a report, so this page and the tool agree.
| Component | Category at the lowest rate | Weight | Fee | Category at the highest rate | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pouch | HDPE (#2)/LDPE (#4) Flexible and Film Items | 12 g | $16.40 | PP (#5) Flexible and Film Items | $18.25 |
Colorado: the fee tool returns $16.40 at the lowest matched rates and $18.25 at the highest for 1,000 stand-up pouches of the Medium (about 8 to 12 oz) size (12 g each).
The tool total is $16.40 at the lowest matched rates and $18.25 at the highest.
| Size | Weight each | Total, lowest rates | Total, highest rates | Per pack, lowest | Per pack, highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Packet (about 1 to 2 oz) | 4 g | $5.47 | $6.08 | $0.0055 | $0.0061 |
| Medium (about 8 to 12 oz) | 12 g | $16.40 | $18.25 | $0.0164 | $0.0183 |
| Large (about 2 lb) | 25 g | $34.17 | $38.03 | $0.0342 | $0.038 |
Which published rates were matched in Colorado
2 published rates were matched to the pack in Colorado from the 2027 schedule. Each is quoted from the programme’s own fee table; the page does not change the rate or round it.
Pouch, 12 g: 2 matched rates
| Category | Published rate | Per kilogram | Fee per 1,000 packs | Fee per pack |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HDPE (#2)/LDPE (#4) Flexible and Film Items | 62.0 cents per pound | $1.3669 | $16.40 | $0.0164 |
| PP (#5) Flexible and Film Items | 69.0 cents per pound | $1.5212 | $18.25 | $0.0183 |
Colorado 2027: the category “HDPE (#2)/LDPE (#4) Flexible and Film Items” is published at 62.0 cents per pound.
Colorado 2027: the category “PP (#5) Flexible and Film Items” is published at 69.0 cents per pound.
How size changes the fee for a stand-up pouch
The weight of a stand-up pouch depends on its size. The table prices each of the 3 sizes with the same matched rates, so the only thing that changes between rows is the weight.
| Size | Weight each | Fee per 1,000 packs, lowest rates | Fee per 1,000 packs, highest rates | Per pack, lowest | Per pack, highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Packet (about 1 to 2 oz) | 4 g | $5.47 | $6.08 | $0.0055 | $0.0061 |
| Medium (about 8 to 12 oz) | 12 g | $16.40 | $18.25 | $0.0164 | $0.0183 |
| Large (about 2 lb) | 25 g | $34.17 | $38.03 | $0.0342 | $0.038 |
Each component of the stand-up pouch priced at every size, at the matched rates for Colorado.
| Component | Packet (about 1 to 2 oz) | Medium (about 8 to 12 oz) | Large (about 2 lb) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pouch | 4 g: $5.47 to $6.08 | 12 g: $16.40 to $18.25 | 25 g: $34.17 to $38.03 |
What if the stand-up pouch used another material?
Suppose the main component of the stand-up pouch, weighing 12 g, were made of another material. The table prices the same weight in each material class that Colorado publishes a rate for, at the lowest published rate in that class.
| Material | Lowest published rate | Fee per 1,000 packs at that rate | Highest published rate | Fee per 1,000 packs at that rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| paper and board | 9.0 cents per pound | $2.38 | 15.0 cents per pound | $3.97 |
| plastic | 62.0 cents per pound | $16.40 | 69.0 cents per pound | $18.25 |
| glass | 5.0 cents per pound | $1.32 | 5.0 cents per pound | $1.32 |
| aluminium | 5.0 cents per pound | $1.32 | 5.0 cents per pound | $1.32 |
| steel | 11.0 cents per pound | $2.91 | 11.0 cents per pound | $2.91 |
| Material | Category | Published rate | Fee per 1,000 packs | Fee per pack |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| paper and board | Kraft Paper | 9.0 cents per pound | $2.38 | $0.0024 |
| paper and board | Other Paper Packaging | 15.0 cents per pound | $3.97 | $0.004 |
| glass | Glass Bottles and Jars & Other Containers | 5.0 cents per pound | $1.32 | $0.0013 |
| aluminium | Aluminum Containers | 5.0 cents per pound | $1.32 | $0.0013 |
| steel | Steel Containers | 11.0 cents per pound | $2.91 | $0.0029 |
A fee comparison only: another material changes weight and protection too.
What a larger run of stand-up pouches costs in Colorado
Fees scale with the number of packs, because the schedule charges by mass. The table repeats the worked example for larger runs of the Medium (about 8 to 12 oz) stand-up pouch in Colorado. Nothing else changes between rows: the same weights and the same matched rates apply.
| Packs | Total weight | Fee at the lowest rates | Fee at the highest rates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 1.2 kg | $1.64 | $1.83 |
| 500 | 6 kg | $8.20 | $9.13 |
| 1,000 | 12 kg | $16.40 | $18.25 |
| 5,000 | 60 kg | $82.01 | $91.27 |
| 10,000 | 120 kg | $164.02 | $182.54 |
| 50,000 | 600 kg | $820.12 | $912.71 |
| 100,000 | 1,200 kg | $1,640.24 | $1,825.43 |
| 500,000 | 6,000 kg | $8,201.20 | $9,127.14 |
| 1,000,000 | 12,000 kg | $16,402.39 | $18,254.28 |
Colorado: a single stand-up pouch is estimated at $0.0164 to $0.0183 in packaging fees.
Colorado: across all its components, a stand-up pouch is priced at $1.3669 to $1.5212 per kilogram of packaging.
Taken as a whole, the pack is priced at $1.3669 to $1.5212 per kilogram of packaging, so a heavier pack costs more in proportion to its weight.
Flat fee bands, registration fees and minimum charges sit outside this per-kilogram table.
How the fee for stand-up pouches has moved on Colorado schedules
Colorado has published 2 per-mass fee schedules that price this pack. The same Medium (about 8 to 12 oz) stand-up pouches are priced on each below, with the same weights and the same matching rules, so only the published rates differ.
| Schedule | Effective from | Fee per 1,000 packs, lowest rates | Fee per 1,000 packs, highest rates | Per pack | Change in the lowest fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | January 1, 2026 | $12.70 | $16.93 | $0.0127 to $0.0169 | - |
| 2027 | January 1, 2027 | $16.40 | $18.25 | $0.0164 to $0.0183 | +29.2% |
Colorado: on the 2026 schedule, effective January 1, 2026, 1,000 stand-up pouches of the Medium (about 8 to 12 oz) size were priced at $12.70 to $16.93.
Colorado: on the 2027 schedule, effective January 1, 2027, 1,000 stand-up pouches of the Medium (about 8 to 12 oz) size were priced at $16.40 to $18.25.
The same matched categories on each Colorado schedule, per kilogram; a dash means the schedule does not publish that category.
| Category | 2026 (2026-01) | 2027 (2027-01) |
|---|---|---|
| HDPE (#2)/LDPE (#4) Flexible and Film Items | $1.0582 | $1.3669 |
| PP (#5) Flexible and Film Items | $1.411 | $1.5212 |
The fee schedule behind these figures for Colorado
The rates come from the 2027 schedule of Circular Action Alliance (Colorado PRO) for Colorado, effective January 1, 2027. The facts below record where it was published and what else the schedule charges.
Colorado: the 2027 fee schedule of Circular Action Alliance (Colorado PRO), effective January 1, 2027, is the source of the per-kilogram rates used on this page.
Colorado: the schedule’s rates are based on data from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025.
Colorado: the flat fee band “flat 1 2.5 short tons” (1 to 2.5 short ton) is $900.00.
Colorado: the flat fee band “flat 2.5 5 short tons” (2.5 to 5 short ton) is $1,800.00.
Colorado: the flat fee band “flat 5 7.5 short tons” (5 to 7.5 short ton) is $2,900.00.
Colorado: the flat fee band “flat 7.5 10 short tons” (7.5 to 10 short ton) is $4,100.00.
Colorado: the schedule describes its eco-modulation method as “percentage”.
The schedule also lists 4 flat fee bands for small producers. They can replace the per-kilogram fee and are not part of the estimate on this page.
The schedule describes an eco-modulation of its rates, so the fee a producer pays can be adjusted up or down from the base rates shown here.
Ways to lower the fee on a stand-up pouch
Film thickness sets the weight, so a thinner structure that still protects the product is the most direct way to lower a mass-based fee.
Single-material films are easier to sort for recycling, and several programmes publish different rates for them than for multilayer laminates.
A pouch that is sold with a paper outer box carries two packaging components, and the box is priced on its own page.
Pouches are light, so the fee per pack is small, but the fee per 1,000 packs adds up for a product sold in volume.
Questions sellers ask
How much is the EPR fee for a stand-up pouch in Colorado?
For 1,000 stand-up pouches of the Medium (about 8 to 12 oz) size, the estimated fee is $16.40 to $18.25 on the 2027 schedule, from the published rates that fit each component.
Is this the amount I will pay?
No. It is an estimate for the packaging alone. Registration fees, flat fee bands, eco-modulation and thresholds sit outside the per-kilogram figure. Instica prepares the data; you check, sign and submit it, and Instica never stores regulator login details.
How these figures are made
Sources
- circularactionalliance.org: CO 2027DuesSchedule 100126 retrieved
Original wording: 2027 Colorado Producer Dues Schedule Dues for Program Year 2027
Original wording: 1 to 2.5 tons $900
Original wording: 2.5 to 5 tons $1,800
Original wording: 5 to 7.5 tons $2,900
Original wording: 7.5 to 10 tons $4,100
Original wording: +5% dues for materials that disrupt recycling
Original wording: HDPE (#2)/LDPE (#4) Flexible and Film Items AML $0.62 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.62
Original wording: PP (#5) Flexible and Film Items N/C $0.65 $0.00 $0.04 $0.00 $0.69
Original wording: Kraft Paper MRL $0.09 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.09
Original wording: Glass Bottles and Jars & Other Containers MRL $0.05 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.05
Original wording: Aluminum Containers MRL $0.05 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.05
Original wording: Steel Containers MRL $0.12 $0.00 $0.00 -$0.01 $0.11
Original wording: Other Paper Packaging MRL $0.15 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.15
- circularactionalliance.org: producer resource center retrieved
Original wording: Colorado May 31, 2026 CY 2025 Annual Supply Report 2027 Program
- circularactionalliance.org: CO 2026 Dues Schedule Public retrieved
Original wording: HDPE (#2)/LDPE (#4) Flexible and Film Items AML 48.0 ¢/lb 0.0 ¢/lb 0.0 ¢/lb 0.0 ¢/lb 48.0 ¢/lb
The free plan is enough to start. We estimate and prepare; you sign and submit.