Colorado’s Plastic Pollution Reduction Act headed to governor’s desk

The bill takes aim at the most harmful plastic pollution from bags to Styrofoam, and lift restrictions on local governments

U.S. PIRG

DENVER – The Colorado State Legislature passed the Plastic Pollution Reduction Act on Tuesday, clearing the final hurdle before landing on Gov. Jared Polis’ desk for signature into law. The bill is one of the most comprehensive plastic pollution reduction bills passed in the country and marks the first time a non-coastal state has taken action to phase out wasteful single-use plastic products.

The Plastic Pollution Reduction Act would phase out single-use plastic bags, polystyrene cups and containers, and reverse a law that prohibits municipalities from passing their own ordinances to address plastic waste. With Gov. Polis’ signature, Colorado would become the tenth state legislature to ban single-use plastic shopping bags in certain stores and the eighth to ban foam food containers, and the first state in the country to reverse municipal preemption.

In response, Alex Truelove, zero waste director for U.S. PIRG, issued the following statement:

“The Colorado Legislature just passed one of the most comprehensive plastic pollution reduction bills in the country. This bill provides an example for preventing single-use plastic pollution. Not only does it effectively target some of the most unnecessary and wasteful products such as shopping bags and foam containers, but it also gives power back to municipalities to take local action. We look forward to Governor Polis signing the bill in the coming weeks.”