(1) The general assembly hereby finds and declares that:
Colorado is blessed by natural beauty and an excellent quality of life, which shouldbe maintained;
The prevention of pollution will assist in maintaining quality of life in our state;
There are resources and expertise in Colorado, including industry, government, andcitizen groups, which can provide information and assistance to promote the cost-effective prevention of pollution;
There are opportunities to reduce or prevent pollution through voluntary changes inprocurement, production, operations, and use of raw materials throughout the state;
The purpose of this article is to create a cooperative partnership among business,agriculture, the environmental community, and the department of public health and environment in which technical assistance, outreach, and education activities are coordinated and conducted to achieve pollution prevention and waste reduction and source reduction;
The prevention of pollution is preferable to treatment and disposal of toxic substancesand is the cornerstone of the future of environmental management.
(2) The general assembly, therefore, determines and declares that the state policy of Colorado shall be that pollution prevention is the environmental management tool of first choice. The state policy shall be that: Pollution should be prevented or reduced at the source by means including the reduction in the production or use of hazardous substances; pollution that cannot be prevented should be recycled in an environmentally safe manner; pollution that cannot be prevented or recycled should be treated in an environmentally safe manner; and disposal or other releases into the environment should be employed only as a last resort and should be conducted in an environmentally safe manner.
Source: L. 92: Entire article added, p. 1326, § 1, effective July 1. L. 94: (1)(e) amended, p. 2793, § 535, effective July 1.
Cross references: (1) For further provisions concerning the purchase of recycled paper and recycled products, see §§ 13-1-133, 24-103-903, and 30-11-109.5; for further provisions concerning the recycling of plastics and other materials, see article 17 of this title 25; for strategies for waste diversion of motor vehicle tires, see part 14 of article 20 of title 30.
(2) For the legislative declaration contained in the 1994 act amending subsection (1)(e), see section 1 of chapter 345, Session Laws of Colorado 1994.