Single-Use Bag Fee

10-cent bag fee, reusable bags, banner

Did you know Coloradans use an estimated 4.6 million single-use plastic bags every day? 

Plastic bags are produced from non-renewable resources and are very difficult to recycle. Plastic bags belong in your garbage cart unless you bring them to an approved retailer that can recycle them such as King Soopers or Walmart. 

A single-use bag fee of $0.10 per bag will be imposed starting on Jan. 1, 2023, per Colorado law. You can avoid the fee by bringing your own reusable bags to the store. 

Start bringing your bags to shop in Lafayette today!

City of Lafayette Blue Reusable Bag that reads "Bring It Tráela Lafayette"

Colorado Law - Plastic Pollution Reduction Act

  •  Jan. 1, 2023: a new Colorado law will require businesses with more than three locations in Colorado to impose a 10-cent fee on single-use plastic and paper bags
  • Jan. 1, 2024: Colorado law will ban single-use plastic bags at most stores and expanded polystyrene foam takeout containers (more commonly known as Styrofoam™) at restaurants

Take the Lafayette Plastic Free Pledge, and make a difference in our community by bringing your reusable bags to shop. 


  1. General questions

What businesses must follow the single-use bag fee?

  • Major grocery stores and supermarkets
  • Major convenience stores
  • Major liquor stores
  • Major retailers
  • Other major stores that provide plastic bags
  • Including any self-checkout and delivery services

Are there any exemptions to the bag fee?

  • Smaller stores with three or fewer locations in Colorado
  • Farmers and roadside markets
  • Laundry or dry-cleaning services
  • Pharmacies
  • Bulk stores
  • Restaurants

What is a single-use bag?

A single-use bag means a bag that is not reusable and is destined for our local landfill or recycling process. The bag fee and ban are only on single-use plastic and paper bags distributed to customers at the point of sale. This does not include reusable bags that may be provided by the store or any bag brought in by the customer to be used.

Single-use bag does not include:

  • Bags used by consumers inside stores to:
    • Package bulk items, such as fruit, vegetables, nuts, grains, candy, or small hardware items
    • Contain or wrap frozen foods, meat, or fish
    • Contain or wrap flowers, potted plants, or other items where dampness may be a problem
    • Contain unwrapped prepared foods or bakery goods
  • A non-handled bag used to protect a purchased item from damaging or contaminating other purchased items when placed in a recyclable paper bag or reusable bag
  • Bags provided by pharmacists to contain prescription drugs
  • Newspaper bags, door-hanger bags, laundry-dry cleaning bags, or bags sold in packages containing multiple bags for uses such as food storage, garbage, pet waste, or yard waste bags

When does the single-use bag fee take effect?

The statewide single-use bag fee takes effect on Jan. 1, 2023.

How much is the bag fee?

The fee is ten cents ($0.10) per plastic or paper bag.

What businesses must follow the plastic bag and StyrofoamTM ban starting on January 1, 2024? 

  • All of the businesses that must follow the single-use bag fee
  • Including any self-checkout and delivery services
  • Restaurants 
  1. Will I have to pay the bag fee?
  1. Business resources
  1. How will the bag fee revenue be used?
  1. Environmental impact