Reusable Bag Information for Businesses

bag ban, single use bag ban, plastic bag ban, paper bag fee

A new Colorado law will require businesses with three or more locations to charge customers a 10-cent fee on plastic and paper bags starting on January 1, 2023. The following year, the law expands to also ban all single-use plastic bags at the same stores and Styrofoam™ to-go containers at restaurants. 

Plastic bags are produced from non-renewable resources and are very difficult to recycle. Plastic bags and Styrofoam™  are not biodegradable, so they remain as litter in the environment.

We are here to help your business understand the requirements and help you let customers know about the changes if your business is impacted.  

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

Colorado Law

  • Jan. 1, 2023: a new Colorado law will require some businesses to impose a 10-cent fee on disposable 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

Establishments that must follow the bag fee and ban

  • Major grocery stores and supermarkets
  • Major convenience stores
  • Major liquor stores
  • Major retailers
  • Other major stores providing plastic shopping bags
  • Restaurants must follow the Styrofoam™ ban

Exempt establishments and items from the bag fee and ban

  • Customers participating in a federal or state food assistance program
  • Smaller stores with three or fewer locations
  • Farmers and roadside markets
  • Laundry or dry-cleaning services
  • Pharmacies
  • Bulk stores
  • Frozen food, meat, seafood, plants, and other items that could otherwise be contaminated

Toolkits for Businesses

We are here to help! 

A Partners for a Clean Environment advisor can help walk you through the best way to make changes that work for your business. Email Matt Hannon, Boulder County PACE Business Sustainability Advisor at 303-441-1162.

Signage and materials coming soon.