Bulletin Board

It might feel like there is mostly bad news about plastics. But here are some of the good news headlines you might have missed:

• Colorado used nearly 2 billion fewer plastic grocery bags last year, thanks to the Plastic Pollution Reduction Act.
• Plastic bags will be entirely phased out, along with foam to-go containers, as a result of a new law that went into effect last month.
• Reusables at Denver events and restaurants are replacing disposable cups and service ware with help from the Reuse Denver Incentive and the Reusable Cup Funding programs.
• The Waste No More Ordinance, passed by Denver voters in 2022, will require universal access to recycling and composting across the city.

We’re proud to take action at the city and state levels to help reduce waste and encourage reuse and recycling instead. These changes, alongside individual behavior change, can positively impact the planet and your wallet. How might you break up with plastic this year? Some ideas include:

• Remember to bring your reusable bag to the grocery store. Later this year, grocery stores will no longer provide plastic bags for you.
• Support a local zero waste retailer. More and more of these zero waste stores are popping up across the city. Find one near you and ditch packaging waste.
• Give used items a new life: vintage, reused, and refurbished items are all the rage, and you can join in and give something old a new look and a longer life.
• Tell your delivery driver to “skip the stuff.” - Getting food delivered or to-go? Forego the plastic service ware and use what you have at home instead.