2023 Colorado Revised Statutes › Title 30 - GOVERNMENT - COUNTY (§§ 30-1-101 — 30-35-906) › COUNTY POWERS AND FUNCTIONS (§§ 30-11-101 — 30-26-513) › GENERAL (§§ 30-11-101 — 30-24-104) › Article 20 - PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS (§§ 30-20-100.5 — 30-20-1418) › Part 1 - SOLID WASTES DISPOSAL SITES AND FACILITIES (§§ 30-20-100.5 — 30-20-124) › Section 30-20-100.5 - Legislative declaration

(1)
The general assembly hereby finds and declares that:
(a)
Proper disposal of solid wastes is a matter of mixed statewide and local concern;
(b)
Improper disposal of solid wastes poses significant public health risks, environmental hazards, and long-term liability for the citizens of the state;
(b.5)
State and local governments have a joint responsibility to work in partnership to address environmental and public health risks that may result from local-government-owned landfills, and public officials must ensure the safe and cost-effective management and disposal of solid waste for their communities;
(c)
(I)
Colorado citizens are increasingly voicing their concerns about solid waste issues. Such concerns include the following:
(A)
How citizens can make maximum use of waste reduction and recycling programs as part of such citizens' personal environmental commitment;
(B)
Concerns of citizens relating to the siting of a solid wastes site and facility near their homes; and
(C)
Challenges to public officials to react responsibly to assure safe and cost-effective solid waste management and disposal for their community over the next five to ten years.
(II)
Reflecting such concerns, private citizens and companies have joined with local and state officials to address the needs of Colorado concerning solid waste.
(d)
Optimal solid waste management in Colorado should include the following elements:
(I)
The state government, local governments, and private companies and citizens of Colorado each must play important roles in the management of solid waste in Colorado.
(II)
A statewide system of integrated solid waste management planning is necessary to meet Colorado's solid waste disposal needs over the next twenty years. Local governments and their citizens should be encouraged to work toward consensus concerning their solid waste disposal needs and concerning the types and numbers of solid wastes sites and facilities necessary or desirable in their areas.
(III)
State and local efforts in this area must be focused toward the reduction of the volume and toxicity of the waste stream. Realistic waste reduction goals should be established and state and local solid waste management goals should strive to achieve such goals through source reduction, recycling, composting, and similar waste management strategies.
(IV)
Renewed efforts and new mechanisms are needed to ensure the full participation of the public in all phases of solid waste decision-making. All participants and concerned parties must contribute to a continuing, dedicated effort to inform and educate the public concerning solid waste and its impact on public health and the environment.
(V)
A strong component of statewide waste management efforts shall be the minimization of illegal disposal of solid wastes through the provision of the appropriate kinds and numbers of solid waste sites and facilities as needed to handle, treat, and dispose of solid waste in all areas of the state.
Amended by 2023 Ch. 225,§ 2, eff. 8/7/2023.
L. 91: Entire section added, p. 963, § 1, effective June 5.