Fort Collins approves Colorado’s latest municipal ban on single-use plastic bags
Fort Collins residents who cringe every time they see a plastic bag stuck in an aspen tree have cause to celebrate.
In an April 6 municipal election, Fort Collins voters decided to ban disposable plastic bags at large grocers and place a 12-cent fee on paper bags. CoPIRG, which applauded the vote, is urging the Colorado Legislature to phase out single-use plastic bags, along with polystyrene food containers and cups, across the entire state.
“With millions of new single-use plastic items pouring into our state every day, it’s crucial that we continue taking steps to reduce our dependence on these wasteful products and move Colorado beyond plastic,” said CoPIRG Executive Director Danny Katz. “Nothing we use once for a few minutes should pollute our communities for centuries.”
Plastic waste eventually breaks down into microplastics, which have become virtually ubiquitous, found recently even in rainwater collected in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Learn more about our campaigns to move Colorado toward zero waste.
Tell your lawmakers: We need statewide action to move Colorado beyond plastic
It's time for Colorado to tackle our plastic waste crisis at the state level. The Plastic Pollution Reduction Act is our best chance to do that — but your legislators need to hear from you.
Authors
Aaron Colonnese
Former Content Creator, Editorial & Creative Team, The Public Interest Network