the problem

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While Colorado’s economy has enjoyed a boom in recent years due to the growing recreational and medical cannabis programs, a small, unrecognized issue has grown into a big problem at state landfills. Due to current regulations, licensed facilities that grow cannabis must effectively destroy the waste generated by their operations to make it “unusable”, and that waste must be mixed 50/50 with another filler material to make it “unrecognizable”.

Cannabis waste regulations are written this way in an effort to reduce diversion, or the act of distributing and selling legally grown cannabis in the black market. Much of the mixed waste ends up in a dumpster destined for the landfill. Unfortunately, due to the lack of a standard waste management method, this waste can still be usable.

Effective January 1, 2021

STATEMENT OF ADOPTION - Basis and Purpose 3-230

3-230 – Waste Disposal 

2. b. Requirements for Other Permitted and Sustainable Methods to Render Regulated Marijuana Waste Unusable and Unrecognizable.

i. "A Regulated Marijuana Business may utilize on its own Licensed Premises or may Transfer Regulated Marijuana waste to another Regulated Marijuana Business..."

ii. "A Regulated Marijuana Business may transfer only the stalks, stems, fan leaves, and roots from Regulated Marijuana to an area outside the Licensed Premises that is under the Licensee’s possession and control or to an unlicensed third-party that is registered and in good standing with the Colorado Secretary of State...".

iv. "A Regulated Marijuana Business or an unlicensed third-party providing compliant waste remediation shall ensure that the organic composition of the Regulated Marijuana waste is permanently altered so that it is rendered Unusable and Unrecognizable".