Boulder recycling center shows progress after six months of the plastic bag tax.

Status of plastic bag fees for the last six months in Boulder

BOULDER, Colo. — Under Colorado's Plastic Pollution Reduction Act, which attempts to prevent trash and contamination, single-use plastic bags have been 10 cents each statewide for the past six months. While we won't have statewide effect statistics in aggregate for some time, early local data and recycling facility findings are promising.

Four cents of each dollar charge are kept by the company to fund operating expenses, and six cents are given to the city authority in the area.

Since it went into force in 2013, Boulder's plastic bag charge has raised more than $2.5 million, with roughly $260,000 being collected each year. Since July 2021, when Denver began charging for plastic bags, it has amassed more than $4 million in revenue.

Impact of single-use plastic bag fees.

Local governments are permitted to use the funds raised for environmental and sustainability objectives, such as reducing plastic litter and providing reusable bags.

However, the purpose of the fees is not to generate revenue for local governments. Instead, it's to encourage each of us to carry reusable bags with us when we go out and shop. Eco-Cycle has supported single-use bag restrictions in this area and believes they will significantly assist Coloradans in reducing pollution and contamination.

The amount of plastic bags brought in has decreased, according to Randy Moorman, head of policy and community initiatives at Eco-Cycle, even though the company does not yet have comprehensive data to provide.

"I am so amazed by the number of people walking in with reusable bags or no bags at all," Moorman said of his shopping experience at his neighborhood King Soopers. "So, I've noticed a significant shift. I'll also mention that our municipal parks departments have discovered a significant decrease in the number of plastic bags they have to remove from clogged storm drains or clean up in their parks. Aspen is one of these departments that recently conducted research. Therefore, by minimizing the use of plastic bags, our communities will save a ton of money on public taxes, in addition to the environmental advantage.

Government agencies' views on single-use plastic bag fees

Single-use plastic bags have been collected by Eco-Cycle at its Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials. The bags are challenging to recycle because they can jam the equipment that sorts through the things brought in. According to Moorman, dealing with the contamination and necessary repairs has cost the group roughly $100,000 annually. This is another area where cutting back on baggage entering the building has been quite beneficial.

Above all, according to Moorman, it is crucial to address the leading cause of trash discovered during state-wide river and stream clean-ups.

TLPPACKAGING FOR SHOPPING BAGS