Tee Cee’s Tip

Dear Tee Cee: I am thrilled about the new singleuse plastic bag ban, but I have some questions. I was shopping in Longmont and a clerk told a customer that plastic bags were outlawed and the store had to throw them all away (groan). But then I went to a different grocery store and the selfcheckout was fully stocked with single-use plastic bags. Is the grocery store still allowed to give away these bags? I would take a job as a secret shopper to check for compliance if there were such a position.

— Thanks, Michael

Dear Michael: Thanks for keeping your eye on the new rules at the state and local levels! You’re right, a single-use plastic bag ban went into effect January 1, 2024, for the entire state of Colorado. This was part of the Plastic Pollution Reduction Act (PPRA), and what you’re seeing now is the transition period before the plastic bag ban is in full effect.

Here’s a little background on the new law. Back in January 2023, big retailers in Colorado were required to charge at least $0.10 (some municipalities have local rules for higher fees) for each paper or plastic bag at checkout. That was Phase I of the bill.

Colorado municipalities, retailers, and food establishments are now transitioning to Phase II. Under the rules of Phase II, single-use plastic bag distribution is prohibited and a minimum $0.10 fee continues for single-use paper bags. Stores are expected to be in full compliance by June 1. Until then, stores may still use up their inventory of plastic bags purchased prior to the beginning of the year until they’re gone or until the June 1 deadline. That’s why some places still have plastic bags while others don’t. (It is NOT accurate that stores were required to throw out their bag supply.)

Phase II also addresses a longstanding enemy of the environment — foam food containers! Under PPRA, Colorado restaurants and food establishments may no longer distribute polystyrene foam (commonly referred to as Styrofoam®) food and beverage containers. Again, retailers may use up their pre-2024 polystyrene foam purchases so items aren’t needlessly thrown away (that is the point, after all). But they may not replenish their supply and they must transition to other containers.

Enforcement of PPRA will be up to local cities and counties, and details will differ for each community. There will be opportunities for any secret (or even not-so-secret) shoppers to report any funny business. But in the meantime, if you see a large retailer using plastic bags after the June 1 deadline, or a restaurant using foam containers well after their inventory would likely be depleted, please let them know there’s now a plastic pollution mandate in place for the health of all Coloradans, so please join in!

— Tee Cee