Single-Use Plastics

Plastic Bag Ban

As of July 1, 2025, the City started enforcing rules for plastic bags at large retail stores. Large retailers can still offer recycled paper bags for $0.10.

Large retailers must pay 6 cents to the City for each bag sold. Payment is due by the 20th day after each quarter ends. For example, the first quarter is January through March. That payment is due by April 20. The bag fee is not a tax. All money goes to City programs that support zero waste goals.

Start Bag Fee Payments

Payment Schedule

Is Your Business Affected by the Plastic Bag Ban?

Your business must pay the fee if it is a store, as defined by City Code 12-311. A store is a grocery store, supermarket, convenience store, liquor store, dry cleaner, pharmacy, clothing store, or other type of retail establishment at which carryout bags are traditionally provided to customers.

"Small stores” are exempt. These are stores with the following criteria:

• Having three or fewer locations
• Operating solely in the state of Colorado 
• Not a part of a franchise, corporation or partnership with physical locations outside of Colorado

Restaurants, caterers and bars are not affected.

Checkout Bags

Bags provided at check-out and for curbside pick-up are charged the fee. Bags brought into the store by the customer are not charged the fee.

Who Does Not Pay the 10-Cent Bag Fee

“Small stores” are exempt. These are stores having three or fewer locations, operating solely in the state of Colorado, and not a part of a franchise, corporation or partnership with physical locations outside of Colorado. Farmers markets and roadside stands that qualify as small stores are also exempt. All restaurants are exempt no matter how many locations they have.

Bags for customers using state or federal food assistance programs are exempt. Bags for other uses besides checkout are also exempt, including produce bags and bags for food that could contaminate other items like frozen food, meat or seafood. This also includes bags for unwrapped food and bakery items, loose items like hardware or nuts, dry cleaning or laundry, prescription medication and small pets like fish or crustaceans.

Polystyrene Ban

Starting July 1, 2025, the City will enforce the ban on polystyrene — also called Styrofoam or plastic foam — food containers and cups at retail food businesses.

Is Your Business Affected by the Polystyrene Ban?

Food businesses make or package food for people. People can eat the food there or take it home. This includes restaurants, fast food places, food trucks, cafeterias, schools and prisons.

Banned Polystyrene Items

The ban covers food containers with hinges, plates, bowls, cups and trays.

Who Is Exempt

Farmers markets and roadside markets are exempt. Private homes and boarding houses are exempt, as are home kitchens selling under the Colorado Cottage Foods Act. Hospitals and health facilities, childcare centers, hunting camps and outdoor recreation sites are also exempt.

Food manufacturing, processing or packing plants are exempt. Vehicles used only to transport food are exempt. Coffee or tea shops serving only hot drinks and pastries are exempt. Places serving only pre-packaged food that only needs heating in its original container are exempt, as are vending machines with pre-packaged food.

Medicine and supplement packaging approved by the FDA does not need to follow this rule.

Frequently Asked Questions