HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Read Before Packet - 2/2/2021 - Memorandum From Molly Saylor Re: February 2, 2021 Updated Materials For Item 13 - Plastic PollutionEnvironmental Services
222 Laporte Ave.
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.221.6600
fcgov.com/environmental services
MEMORANDUM
Date: February 1, 2021
To: Mayor Troxell and City Councilmembers
Thru: Darin Atteberry, City Manager
Jacqueline Kozak Thiel, Chief Sustainability Officer
Lucinda Smith, Environmental Services Director
From: Molly Saylor, Senior Specialist, Environmental Sustainability
Re: February 2, 2021 Updated Materials for Item 13 – Plastic Pollution
This memo is to provide Council with updated materials for item 13 - REGULATION OF DISPOSABLE
BAGS AND MITIGATION OF OTHER SOURCES OF SINGLE USE PLASTIC POLLUTION, including:
1. Updated attachment: Updated Summary of Survey Responses – Share Your Thoughts on
Plastics Policy
This attachment provides Council an update of
o Survey responses and related summary statistics
o Other public comments from the City Leaders email and social media
Responses are up to date as of February 1 at 8am.
New comments are included after comments previously included, creating a
comprehensive reference of all comments to date.
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Share Your Thoughts on Plastics Policy
Summary of Responses
• 1,388 Responses
o Includes 870 responses to open ended question on survey
o 13 additional public comments received through other outlets
• Included responses from December 17, 2020 – January 31, 2021
• Survey available in both Spanish and English
• Personal contact information has been removed or redacted to protect privacy
Policy Questions:
821 192 48 322LEVEL OF SUPPORT
Plastic Bag Ban and Paper Bag Fee at Large
Grocers in Fort Collins, Beginning in May
2022
Strongly Support Somewhat Support Somewhat Do Not Support Do Not Support
948 121 42 267LEVEL OF SUPPORT
A Ban on Plastic Bags
Strongly Support Somewhat Support Somewhat Do Not Support Do Not Support
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595
537
693
483
240
349
261
377
150
128
65
115
378
350
338
400
AN EXEMPTION TO THE PAPER BAG FEE FOR LOW-
INCOME CUSTOMERS
PORTION OF PAPER BAG FEE BEING RETAINED BY
GROCERS
PORTION OF PAPER BAG FEE BEING RETAINED BY
THE CITY
A FEE ON PAPER BAGS
PAPER BAGS: How Strongly Do You Support
The Following?
Strongly Support Somewhat Support Somewhat Do Not Support Do Not Support
767
871
759
650
848
212
192
243
291
145
84
48
59
76
45
297
253
307
347
326
ANNUAL REPORTING ON DISPROPORTIONATE
IMPACTS
ANNUAL REPORTING ON PERFORMANCE
MEASURES
AUDIT IMPACTED BUSINESSES
CIVIL PENALTIES FOR THOSE WHO DON'T COMPLY
IMPLEMENTING POLICY IN MAY 2022
Support for Other Policy Elements
Strongly Support Somewhat Support Somewhat Do Not Support Do Not Support
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Demographic Questions
56%32%
9%
1%1%1%
0%
0%
0%
Gender
Woman
Man
Decline to Specify
Non-Binary
Transgender Non-Binary
Prefer to Self-Identify
Two Spirit
Transgender Woman
Transgender Man
77%
16%
4%
2%
0%1%
0%Race
White
Decline to Specify
Two or more races
Asian
Black / African American
American Indian / Alaska Native
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander
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68%
25%
4%3%
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic / Latinx
Decline to specify
Hispanic / Latinx
Prefer to Self-identify
69%
23%
3%2%
1%1%
1%Sexual Orientation
Heterosexual
Decline to specify
Bisexual
Lesbian or Gay
Pansexual
Prefer to Self-identify
Asexual
19%
15%
15%15%
14%
12%
9%
1%Age Range
60-69 yrs
40-49 yrs
50-59 yrs
30-39 yrs
70 yrs or older
20-29 yrs
Decline to specify
15-19 yrs
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24%
16%
14%
13%
9%
8%
5%
4%3%
2%2%Household Income Range
Decline to specify
$100K - $149,999
$50K - $74,999
$75K - $99,999
$35K - $49,999
$150K - $199,999
$200K +
$25K - 34,999
$15K - 24,999
Less than $10K
$10K - $14,999
78%
14%
6%2%
0%
Educational Attainment
Bachelor's degree or higher Some college or associate's degree
Decline to specify High school graduate (or equivalency)
Less than high school graduate
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26%
15%
15%
14%
12%
10%
8%
Council District
Decline to Specify
6
1
2
4
3
5
35%
24%
16%
11%
9%5%
Length of Residence
More than 20 yrs
1-5 yrs
6-10 yrs
11-15 yrs
16-20 yrs
Decline to Specify
76%
22%
2%
Do Your Own or Rent Your Residence
Own
Rent
Other
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Qualitative Feedback:
• 870 responses to open ended question on survey
• 13 additional public comments received through City Leaders email, Waste Reduction & Recycling
email and direct message on Next Door
Public Comment: Received from outlets other than the survey
From: Pat Burger
Date: January 30, 2021 at 5:21:13 PM MST
Subject: [EXTERNAL] We need to ban plastic bags in Ft Collins!
Hello Fort Collins City Council,
Please approve the ordinance banning disposable plastic bags in Ft Collins. We are awash in plastic, we find these things
on the trails up in Horsetooth, in the trees around town, and there is no way to effectively recycle them.
There are plenty of excellent, inexpensive alternatives. Most of us just need to get in the habit of bringing our reusable
bags to stores with us.
I applauded your efforts to consider those who would have difficulty affording the fee; let’s help people learn to bring their
reusable bags.
This ordinance is long overdue.
Thank you in advance for taking this request seriously.
Best regards,
Pat Burger
From: Betsy Perna
Date: January 30, 2021 at 5:50:09 PM MST
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Plastic Mitigation
Greetings:
1. I would like Council to amend Chapter 12 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins (Ordinance No. 026, 2021) in
order to Establish Regulations Regarding Disposable Bags and Mitigation of Other Sources of Single Use Plastic
Pollution.
2. Regarding the first reading of Ordinance No. 027, 2021, I would also like Council to approve and appropriate an
off-cycle funding request, contingent on the Outcome of the April 2021 Election, in order to support initial
implementation of Ordinance No. 026, 2021, “Establishing Regulations Regarding Disposable Bags”.
I'm not exactly sure if I worded these suggestions articulately, but I'm just trying to say that I am definitely pro-plastic
mitigation.
Thank you for the opportunity to vice my opinion.
Betsy Perna
From: Marlin Glantz
Sent: Sunday, January 17, 2021 10:23 AM
Subject: [EXTERNAL] plastics
Tried to navigate the FC website to express my opinion but no luck. This plastic debate was resolved two years ago but
you people are at it again to shove this down our throats. Just another tax for the FC government.
From: Cheryl Bennett
Date: Thursday, January 14, 2021 at 11:01 AM
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Plastic Bags
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Hi City Council,
Just want you to know that if the plastic bag ban goes into effect, I will no longer shop or eat in Fort Collins. I will be
happy to take my business to Loveland, Timnath, Johnstown and anywhere else they allow sanitary plastic bags. I refuse
to use dirty, unsanitary bags to carry food for my family. The bacteria that is in re-usable bags after one use is
unacceptable.
I have also looked at the cost of purchasing new plastic bags from the internet...I can get 5000 for about $10/bucks.
I use bags more than once so calling them single use is not appropriate. I use them for cat litter, bathroom trash, car
trash. There is a stash we have in the event someone is sick.
With everything going on in the city like beggers hanging out on street corners and in front of stores, pot holes in roads,
stop signs that are bent and twisted the wrong direction, lane striping that is barely visible, you think you would have other
things to focus on.
Just wanted to let you know my feelings and where I will be spending my money moving forward.
Cheryl Bennett
Dear City Leaders,
Please consider limiting the use of plastic bags in our city. I understand this is being considered as an item on the
April ballot. It is difficult to recycle these bags, unless you return them to the stores or visit the recycling center. I know
the amount of bags we have accumulated is staggering and we’re just one family. We do recycle them and try to use our
own reusable bags.
Seeing pictures of piles of plastic around the world is awful. It is important to take action to reduce these piles and
save our planet for future generations.
Thank you,
Ann Conroy
From: Megan Dyer
Date: Thursday, December 17, 2020 at 10:15 AM
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Pick up & delivery of groceries-plastic bag ban
I am all for a ban or something similar. BUT, know that if you order online for pick up or delivery the groceries are in
plastic bags. Would these be an exception?
How else am I supposed to get my groceries?
Also know that store staff cannot touch your personal bags.
Please encompass all scenarios before putting this proposal together.
And charging for paper bags? Bad idea and I'd be resentful.
Thanks for your ear. If these items are not addressed in the proposal I will be voting 'no'.
From: Thomas Schipper
Date: Thursday, December 17, 2020 at 11:02 AM
Subject: [EXTERNAL] The idea of the plastic bag ban being placed on the ballot
Hello,
I feel the timing of a possible ban on plastic bags and a charge for paper bags being put on the upcoming ballot very
poorly timed. Are you aware at this time some stores won’t bag groceries in any bags you provide? If you want to use
your own bags you need to put items in the bags yourself. This has been done at some stores as part of the efforts to
prevent the spread of COVID-19. I also urge you to consider the potential health risk of requiring everyone to provide
their own bags or pay for paper ones. Here is a link to a good article on the subject: Reusable Grocery Bags
Contaminated With E. Coli, Other Bacteria | University of Arizona News
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Thank you,
Thomas Schipper
From: betsy hoff
Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2020 7:01 AM
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Bag fee
Good morning,
Your "single use" bag, is my twice use bags. I line my trash cans with grocery bags, scoop cat litter and pick up after dog!
I will still need plastic bags. I do use reusable bags at the groc stores, at times. I always put raw meat in a plastic bag
before it goes in my reusable bag. Covid showed us all, that reusable bags are not very clean! Most stores today, will not
let you use your reusable bags or they make you bag your own groceries. I don't work there, I'm not bagging my
groceries! In the times we are in, there is so many more important issues, you should be spending your time on!!
Betsy Hoff
Date: Friday, January 15, 2021 at 11:17 AM
Subject: [EXTERNAL] PLASTIC BAGS & MONTAVA DEVELOPEMENT
To Council Members & City Manager:
I have 2 important issues that I wish to address:
1. 1) I favor banning plastic bags but I do not think there should be a charge on using paper bags. Because these
paper bags can be recycled along with cardboard, they should not have a fee placed on them. Should this fee be
included in the ballot measure, then unfortunately I’ll have to vote against this measure.
2. 2) City approval for the Montava residential development in NE Fort Collins needs to be reassessed. According
to Sunday's Coloradoan, the developer wishes to use an underground aquifer to supply water to 4000
homes. This is the same trick that developers south of Denver did. Build the homes, get their money, and let the
residents worry about water as their aquifer is now drying up. In our present environment, there is no way the
water used can be replaced by rain and snow melt as fast as it will be removed. It is time to say: no appropriate
source of water, then no building.
Thank you for working on my behalf,
Lt Col Robert A. Schmidt
From: Todd Dangerfield
Sent: Wednesday, January 13, 2021 5:00 PM
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Proposed Plastic Bag Ban
Council Members,
Prior to considering a ban on plastic grocery bags in Fort Collins, I ask that you consider the potential "unintentional"
consequences that such a ban could bring. Because I read in the Coloradoan that the model for the ban is coming from a
similar initiative in Palo Alto, California, please refer to the links for the two articles from NPR I have included links to that
reference what happened in California after plastic grocery bag bans were enacted. Some highlights:
1. Banning thin plastic grocery bags created an increased purchase of thicker plastic trash can liners
2. Paper and cloth grocery bags actually leave a heavier climate footprint behind than plastic grocery bags
A recommendation from the articles that I could agree with is merely charging a fee to choose the plastic grocery bag
option rather than an outright ban in order achieve the goal to decrease use. My advice as a former California
resident: Not all the best ideas come from California so let's come up with a better solution that is "uniquely Fort Collins."
Thank you
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Are Plastic Bag Bans Garbage?
0BAre Plastic Bag Bans Garbage?
A national movement to ban plastic bags is gaining
steam, but these restrictions may actually hurt the
environme...
The Problem With Banning Plastic Bags : The Indicator from Planet Money
1BThe Problem With Banning Plastic Bags : The
Indicator from Planet Money
Plastic bags are no boon to the environment — but
banning them might be worse.
From: David Haggerty
Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2020 12:32 PM
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Grocery Bag Issue
Hello City Council
For what it's worth, Natural Grocers has not provided any bags, paper or plastic, at the checkout lines for years, although
they do have small ones in the produce department. Boxes from product shipments to them are available in lieu of large
bags. Reusable bags are for sale and sometimes provided at no charge as well.
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None of this seems to cause me or the other customers any problems. We bring reusable bags, and I personally don't
choose to use the small produce bags they provide either.
Perhaps this information will be use full in promoting the ballot measure this spring.
Regards,
David Haggerty
From: Georgia Locker
Sent: Wednesday, January 20, 2021 9:39 AM
Subject: Plastics
My opinion is that we need to get rid of all single use plastics. People do NOT need plastic straws, plastic
stirrers, plastic "silverware", grocery bags, etc. Paper straws are a better option but probably not needed at all
by most of us. "Silverware" comes in bamboo and other materials that are readily available and compost. I
never use the plastic grocery bags as I carry my own. But, when I am at the store, I cringe when seeing someone
with 13-15 single use plastic bags in their cart. This is NOT an uncommon event. People can take their own
recyclable containers to restaurants if they plan to take home food. I have not had any business complain when I
do so. In fact, if I forget them in the car, I get asked where my containers are.
My hope is that the city creates ordinances to do away with single use plastics, or forces fees that are high
enough, so that people make the choice to bring their own bag/containers from home. It is a habit worth
cultivating.
Thank you.
Georgia Locker
Plastics
Conversation between you and Marla G.
We absolutely need to do something. People need to bring their own bags period. That is what natural grocers does.
It can be done. We also need to get rid of the single water bottle. If there is change people will adjust. They gripe in
the beginning and then they figure it out. We have enough containers that they can be refilled. Many people have
water filters on their refrigerator and are to lazy to fill their own water bottle. Who knows what exactly is even in
those water bottles. It's just laziness on our part. Plastic water bottles need to be banned. we've known it for several
years now and we need to act on it.
Marla Gooden
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SURVEY: Open Ended Question: What other thoughts do you have on the proposed policy?
Responses received after 12.29.2020 (responses received before 12.29 previously included in memos are
below.
Provide low income folks with both reusable bags and with exemption to/ adjustment of fees. I saw this working first
hand in Ireland when implemented. People remember to bring bags when fees start.
I fully support this policy. It is time we take more action to protect the environment.
While I fully support the effort to reduce single-use plastic, I don't understand why you'd then penalize people with a
fee for using paper bags. Reusable bags have been identified as carrying all kinds of germs and spreading diseases
like E. coli, so they're not the perfect solution either. And at the moment, many of the stores can't even get paper
bags due to supply issues. In general, I think banning things doesn't work, especially if you then fine people for using
the easiest alternative (paper). You're creating a no-win situation for both shoppers and stores. Besides, the bigger
issue with single-use plastics are containers and plastic bottles, which aren't even being addressed with this
proposal. This sounds like the kind of half-baked policy that gets tossed out when people scream that "we have to do
something" but don't bother asking if said proposal will actually ACCOMPLISH anything other than creating a huge
hassle for everybody involved.
Also a ban on styrofoam packaging. A ban on black un-recyclable plastics (food containers)
I'm glad this is being discussed and strongly support this.
Do not like a paper bag fee used as a source of income for grocers.
Bags are rarely used a "single" time, our bags are used at least twice. Others are recycled. Banning bags will increase
purchase of plastic bags to replace the bags being used more than once.
Fees on bags are government overreach & an increase in cost & regulations to businesses, which is particularly
harmful after losses due to Covid.
Straws & single use food ware should only be provided by customer request.
We just went through a pandemic in which reusable bags were banned, and now we're trying to pass a measure with
negative impact on sanitation? We currently reuse these bags many times. One such use is for poopy diapers. Now
I'll have to buy more bags for that purpose. People are hurting and you're looking for a way to hurt them even more.
Long over due!
I support the bag ban and using the fees to clean natural areas!
I hope the money generated from this initiative will generate “green”jobs and provide skills training for “green jobs”
for low income families.
Low income people are not stupid. We should expect them to embrace and participate in the ordinance just like
everyone else. It is really just a matter of education. However, sometimes I do believe that you have to hit people in
the pocketbook in order to help them to jump on board.
Why this? Why now?
It's about time!
I think a program where lower income folks can receive a reusable bag for free or at a reduced cost may be an idea
worth discussing. I would like to know if there would be policy regarding stores reusing plastic bags that are dropped
off. I am really happy the city is considering this. Thank you.
It's easy to use reusable grocery bags. The City or businesses can give away reusable bags as part of a promotion to
increase use. Need to charge for paper bags so the bags aren't the next go to. Again, because reusable bags are easy
to use.
This policy will cost a ton of money to implement. It is punitive, regressive, overreach, and does not inspire behavior
change. Why are we putting city resources into punishing people for doing something 'bad' instead of incentives,
motivations, removing barriers, etc. do encourage the 'good' behavior. With all the issues and needs in the city, to
implement a fee (which as you know, will have "disproportionate impacts of the policy on low-income households
and other historically underrepresented groups") during a time of COVID, and the general increased cost of living in
Fort Collins, is cruel and tone-deaf. Please put all the money and resources on this to something better. The voters
will vote this down, and it will reflect poorly on council's understanding of their constituents.
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there are many low income individuals, to which this fee would be a burden, that do not qualify for SNAP/WIC/etc,
how do intend to help them?
It's about time !
Ban plastic bags first
I moved to Fort Collins from NYC. Pre-pandemic we were just starting a city-wide ban on plastic bags. There will be
lots of backlash but in the end it does work once people adjust. NJ had already been doing it so if you went to
Walmart there for example, they had no plastic bags to use in the bagging carousel. Also take-out containers from
restaurants should be included. No foam, no plastic. These policies must be enforced properly too or else it’s
pointless. Changing behavior that people are accustomed to for decades isn’t easy but it is worth it to rid the plastic
waste. It’s like electric cars and once people get used to it and see it’s actually better, the complaints will stop and it
will become odd the changes didn’t happen sooner.
Support more use of reusable produce bags and less plastic in stores overall
How will an exemption to the paper bag fee for low-income customers be implemented? How can this be done in a
way that is not onerous and disproportionately burdensome to those low-income customers?
We DO NOT want this. Quit trying to make FoCo like Boulder and other ridiculously progressive cities.
Wow! Really? So many more pressing issues that could be dealt with, and city council wastes time, energy and tax
payer dollars on this?! Shame on you!
I disagreed with an exemption for low-income. Instead of an exemption, low-income residents should be provided
with a set (maybe 6) washable/reusable bags.
Our household reuses every single "single use" plastic bag at home as a trash can liner. If you get rid of plastic
grocery bags, we will have to buy trash can liners - probably a net increase of plastic wasted and a waste of our
family's money.
But perhaps the stupidest part is pushing people to fiber grocery bags during a pandemic with no real end date in
sight. Fiber grocery bags are filthy!
Oh, you want us to toss them in the washing machine. I thought the city was trying to conserve water and electricity.
Do the math on increased water and electricity usage citywide just to wash fiber grocery bags once a week.
The council keeps on pushing this ban. If the community really wants this, let them collect signatures to put it on the
ballot.
Fort Collins has an amazing opportunity - to be a leader in the U.S. and follow what has become standard practice in
many countries around the world. Let's mitigate single-use plastic bag use. It's not just feasible, but imperative as
we tackle climate change and waste.
In the current environment of COVID, raising cost of living, etc, etc, this is what we're debating? Surely the Fort
Collins city council members and associated public servants can find more important topics to address.
With a city as large as Fort Collins the Council is spending their time on plastic vs paper bags? This is ludicrous! They
should be focusing on something more worthwhile.
This is stupid.
If the city really wants to do something that impacts plastic pollutants, enact a decree whereby the city will by
NOTHING from the nation of China. China is the worst polluter on the face of the earth. The majority of plastics
found in our oceans comes from China. Don't waste your time making life inconvenient for people right here in Fort
Collins.
What a fucking joke. More God dam government control over our lives. Leave us the fuck alone. Please
Eliminate paper bags all together and charge a 15 cent fee on reusable plastic bags. There are reusable plastic bags
that can be used 120 times. Recieved a couple from a trip out east from kroger.
Moronic and stupid. Gross overstepping of government authority. City council is absolutely wasting taxpayer money
spending any amount of time on this "issue"
I DO NOT SUPPORT this ban. Many us already reuse the single use bags and recycle them around the house.
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Not a good policy decision. Reusable bags are unsanitary and have been banned from many stores since COVID
started and I have seen many dirty reusable bags over the years working in a grocery store. Would be best to focus
on recycling and anti-litter measures, and common sense measures at stores- "do you need a bag?" for that one or
two item purchase or purchase of a bottle like a laundry detergent that already has a handle. Most stores just
automatically bag even a single item or a bottle with a handle. Often times if the store just asked the customer, if
they need a bag, the answer would be no, which in itself would cut bag usage down considerably. Also these plastic
bags being banned are Made in USA. The reusable bags typically are made overseas not in USA, so this type of policy
banning the USA-made thin bag, and promoting imported reusable bags, is further hurting American jobs.
Strongly oppose
For people just over the low-income threshold, having to pay for all their food deliveries now and to be hit with these
additional costs is very inconsiderate. Not everyone in Fort Collins is made of money, only unfortunate to have been
here too long.
The proposed measure has some significant unintended consequences - many people use plastic bags for secondary
purposes, and people would buy higher weight products to meet those secondary needs, ultimately costing more to
everyone and defeating the point of the ordinance. Paper is also worse for climate change, so we shouldn't be trying
to specifically encourage that either.
Here is an idea that might actually accomplish your goals without the unintended consequences. Instead of a
ban/fine, mandate that stores must offer a 20 cent credit for each customer that brings their own bag, and the store
can claim 25 cents as a general tax credit, up to a certain annual dollar level - that way everyone is incentivized to do
the right thing. You could levy a higher tax on garbage collection to pay for this.
I recommend that you reference the article below, as this lays out a lot of the issues.
https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2019/04/09/711181385/are-plastic-bag-bans-
garbage#:~:text=While%20paper%20is%20biodegradable%20and,bans%20do%20reduce%20nonbiodegradable%20li
tter.
I think a ban is too forceful. Many households including mine make sure to reuse the single use bags. I propose a fee
instead. Please see this study from Berkeley:
https://are.berkeley.edu/~sberto/BagBansVersusBagFees_August2015.pdf
I am not in favor of a fee for paper bag use. I would rather see an incentive for reusable bag use.
This is absurd. Push for education and help train the public about the importance of reusable bags. The city should
NOT hold a gun to the heads of businesses for this type of thing. Educate and encourage the people to move from
plastic, don't punish businesses by implementing this law.
This is ridiculous at this time. We do not need something else to worry about when we have to go to the grocery
store. I don’t want to be dragging reusable bags around to stores where millions of others have been dragging
theirs. It is enough to have to decontaminate everything when you get it home. It’s NOT THE RIGHT TIME for this
noble endeavor.
This is so important. I really hope the measure passes. There is no rationale for allowing lite income residents use
plastic bags if no one else can. Instead give them free paper bags (if there’s a fee imposed). Not hard.
Do not believe cloth bags are sanitary after one use and don't think people wash them. I use plastic bags for dog
clean-up, line waste baskets, coffee grounds etc. I don't toss them without being used. I turn-in unused plastic bags
at the grocery store.
Ban plastic. Don’t charge for paper.
This policy is an important step for our ecosystem-friendly community.
Coordination with what the state legislature has in progress should be part of this city effort. I don't think FC needs
to wait on the state, but should develop our policy so that it is in sync with what's coming at the state level, even if
that means delaying the FC policy slightly (but not too long).
I would love to see a ban on use of styrofoam cups and take out food containers in FC!
Reusable bags has been an easy option for a long time. It is time to move away from plastic to reusable bags.
Providing low cost reusable bags will help this move
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Spend money on education of recycling and reducing waste. Far better money spent than outright bans. What is with
you fucking liberals and banning shit? Go live in Boulder.
Please allow each company to decide bag policy on their own. It is "cost of doing business" for each company and
they can raise prices on goods if/when their bag cost increases.
This has been done in other communities, we can do this. I've read about concerns of duplicating what the state will
maybe eventually do around plastic bags banning; can this/our legislation be written to align with what State is
planning since the objective is undoubtedly the same. Carbondale has had a plastics bag ban for years, people are
just used to it- tourists and locals of all socioeconomics just deal with it. We need to start this leadership in
removing disposable from our waste stream - paper cups and napkins have also got to go - lets do this easy one and
get our citizenry in the mindset of waste reduction.
Banning one-use grocery bags will encourage shoppers to put dirty, filthy, bacteria loaded cloth shopping bags on
check out counters next to our food. Paper bags come from trees. Trees are a crop like corn. A tree is cut down and
made into paper, two tree seedlings are then planted by the lumber company. Result more trees not fewer trees.
Why put a TAX on paper bags? Do you TAX corn? Choose sanitation over feel-good, “Look-At-Me-I-Am-Saving-The-
Environment” do-Gooder issues. Plow the snow from our streets, fix the pot-holes do what the voters need, stop
posturing. George R. Haithwaite
Strongly disagree with this measure!! Government overreach at it's finest exemplified in this measure!! This measure
will drive up prices at restaurants and hit the pocketbooks of every citizen regardless of income status. Low income
citizens saving hard earned dollars to have an occasional meal out will still pay inflated prices!!
I have lived with California's plastic ban bag/fee system in the past. It simply DOES NOT WORK! I still travel to
California cities that have plastic bag bans in place, such as Sacramento. The place is quite simply a dump, with
plastic bags everywhere.
Want to clean up the city? Work on reducing homelessness and getting people off the streets. Hire reputable waste
disposable companies that actually show up on time and on schedule (I'm looking at you, Ram Waste Systems).
Work with those waste disposal companies to provide waste containers that can be latched close to prevent spillage
from high wind. Hire more city employees or repurpose others specifically for cleaning (I don't recall ever seeing city
employees in Fort Collins cleaning anything).
Plastic bag bans and fees are merely window dressing on the real problems that won't mitigate those problems at all,
and another way for governments to nickle and dime residents with taxes without representation.
Further, I don't understand how your plan is going to work with COVID-19 continuing to rage and grocery stores still
prohibiting the use of customers' own bags. Any person or government entity that thinks COVID-19 is going to "go
away" should have their collective heads examined. COVID-19 will be with us forever, just like the seasonal flu.
Forcing customers and stores to use repeat use fabric or plastic bags will certainly aid in the continued spread of
COVID-19 and other viruses.
Please vote NO to this ridiculous plastic bag ban.
A charge of .10 - .20 cents a bag is too low and is not a burden to anybody. I would support higher charges if people
do not use their own bags. The only way to get some people to use reusable bags is to have adequate financial
incentive to do so. Single use bags should cost at least $1 in my opinion.
Currently, if you buy carry out, the restaurant will put it in a single use bag and they will tell you that they are not
allowed to use our reusable bags. This is a problem and I see their point, but I also wish I could pack up my carry out
in my own bags. It's a slippery slope though - I also wish they could use my containers!
The city of Carbondale CO implemented a ban on plastic bags at their City Market in 2012. It is so simple, people
now bring their own bags. It had some push back at the start, but is working very well. Carbondale is looking into
implementing removal of plastic bags in all stores. This is such a simple easy step to eliminate the waste and harm to
our environment by use of these bags. I only wish Fort Collins could implement the ban quickly.
Implement the ban sooner than May 2022. Why wait ? The pandemic has significantly increased the wasteful use of
plastic bags. We do curbside pickup and often get only 3-4 items in each plastic bag, but are prohibited from using
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our cloth bags by Kroger.
Breckenridge has done this for several years and it works well for both residents and visitors.
This is one important step to reducing plastic pollution.
It is imperative that we start reducing single use plastic products! I would also like to see a ban on styrofoam.
Allow the business owner to decide. Allow the consumer to decide. Allow a few market.
The city is overreaching. It's not their place to tell a business how to operate or how to spend the money. The city
gets to spend our tax money and that should be sufficient.
A waste of time with minimal impact on the environment and waste stream. In addition, this penalizes everyone and
burdens the poor. Your misguided reporting requirements create additional unnecessary burdens for businesses and
government. FtC has better uses for the reporting dollars and bigger challenges to focus on. How about paying
more attention to the covid impacts on businesses and your revenue streams? Maybe loosening building permit
costs and regulations to benefit affordable housing? This plastic bag issue is nothing more than virtue signaling ... we
see through this.
Plastic bags allow for easy, contact free grocery deliveries during the COVID-19 pandemic. It may not be a good time
to eliminate this option.
Also, I wonder how self checkout stations will implement any tax collection.
I would support a ban on styrofoam in addition to the plastic measures. I also think that City and County services
should be under the same regulations as private industry.
What problem are you trying to solve? If you are trying to reduce plastic waste, the volume of the bags is too small a
percentage of the plastic waste stream. If you're trying to reduce the unsightly bags blowing in the wind, reinforce
reuse and recycle and pay people to collect those bags. It would be a lot cheaper than this proposed bag ban.
Creating an expensive program and taxing consumers and businesses, while making a provision for low income
individuals, is fraught with challenges and probably won't meet the expectations desired. Why would you penalize
people with fines?
Motivate and reward people to reduce waste. You could consider creating a program similar to a bottle or aluminum
can return program.
Banning these bags is virtue signaling at its best. A solution in search of a problem as it were so that some can feel
good about themselves. And yes - I actually have personally witnessed plastic in the ocean (Caribbean) - and that
was the result of the local island peoples not using items responsibly. And much of the plastic that I witnessed was in
the form of small plastics such as sandwich bags. I personally reuse these "single use" plastic bags for removal of pet
waste, isolating shoes inside of suitcases, etc.
Instead of punishing smaller, local businesses if they do not comply with the plastic bag ban, develop a plan to assist
these businesses with the transition.I do not support the paper bag fee. Especially not one that requires “lower
income” people to prove their status. Businesses should simply increase the price of inventory to cover any
additional expenses. Businesses can raise additional funds by selling reusable bags. Many residents may be willing to
chip in to assist with this transition through donations, in order to ensure free paper bags or reusable bags are
available for those who need them.Check in with the City of Santa Fe, NM, and find out how their plastics ban was
handled and what worked or did not work.
This may be a relatively small step in combatting climate change but it’s important that we do everything we can in
this effort. It’s also important that we have as many of our citizens engaged in these kinds of endeavors. It’s a great
way to raise awareness that collective efforts like this are needed if we are to be successful in stemming climate
change.
With everything going on in the world and all the real immediate issues in Fort Collins (housing, homelessness, food
insecurity, limited public transportation, etc.) and you choose to use the city's limited resources to make a program
imposing a fee on the residents? Things are hard enough on us already! Please do not pursue this, and instead fight
one of the many real problems here
this is long overdue
There need to be ways to mitigate, and ideally, eliminate harm to any underprivileged or underrepresented groups in
the pursuit of environmental health. However, the climate crisis is real and action needs to be taken, even small
steps like this. We just need to be sure that we’re not trampling on anyone along the way.
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It’s about time! Yeah!!!!!
This is a simple straightforward and greatly needed policy for a more sustainable and environmentally friendly
community.
This is ridiculous. Surely you have better things to work on. What about supporting senior citizens and re-establish
the $5 fee for animal license. Loveland renewed this option while FoCo did not. I think this is a priority as most
seniors are on a limited budget.
Annual reporting on what percentage of items start at recycling and end in the dump anyway. Thank you for the
focus area!
As we continue to experience unprecedented economic implications from an ongoing global pandemic that is not
expected to end any time soon, I'd suggest FC officials focus on more practical, relevant matters to support the
community rather than burden everyone with additional, costly legislation. Timing is key.
We should have had a plastic bag ban several years ago. Do it NOW and start it immediately. If the country of
Rwanda can do it, surely our rich community should be able to do this small thing.
it's about time we consider a ban!
Just do it!
What a mess this whole policy is from cost to businesses and cost to residents. Why not coach people on recycling
and reuse of own bags. Then you want to spend money on studies to see if it's working or how much it's impacting
certain people. Poor use of time and our money.
The United Nations has documented single-use plastics as one of the world’s biggest environmental challenges. It
seems like a no-brainer to me and one Fort Collins can easily put in place. NYC has already done it! And just like No
Smoking inside public spaces, the public will get used to it fairly quickly. Humans needs about 2-4 weeks of doing
something "new" to settle into a new pattern.
About time! Please implement!
I reuse all my plastic bags! The selling point when they were so badly wanted by environmentalists was that they
were biodegradable.
I believe that reducing the demand for plastic is the only sustainable solution to plastic waste and pollution. While
there are multiple valuable uses for plastic in our society and economy, I believe we need to continue to seek out
areas where there are sustainable replacements for single-use and other disposable plastic containers and non-
essential items that can be manufactured with more sustainable/renewable materials and technologies.
I'm very supportive of pro-poor policies (including free public transport, public childcare, rent control, higher
minimum wage), but the economic impact of this particular policy on low-income households is negligible. Means-
testing the paper bag fee seems an unnecessary administrative burden for government and/or businesses.
I am proud of Council and staff for taking this initiative. I believe it will be a good move, even if a ban passes at the
state level. I believe that a state-wide ban will be tied up in court for so long that it is important for our city to begin
work on this important problem right away. I also think that after such a regulation is in place, we will see more
willingness to expand control to other types of single-use plastic.
A ban on plastic bags would be a great beginning! Using plastic bags is a horrible waste of a resource, let alone a
pollution source. We do not need to contribute to plastic pollution.
We need to do whatever we can to reduce the throwaway plastics. Bags is a good place to start.
The proposed policy should be proposed for all of Larimer County, and considered for application to the state as a
whole.
First, I do recycle those items that the City accepts,including the vast majority of the plastic grocery bags. In addition I
compost all my food scraps, i.e. I care do about the environment....within reason.
However, the idea that plastic grocery bags are single-use is a misnomer. These bags are re-used in making donations
to the food bank, Goodwill, etc. People take their lunches in them, pack for vacations with them, store items in them,
etc. If you want examples of true single-use bags, there's the dog waste bag and trash can liner but those aren't
being banned. One concern I've seen noted is stray plastic bags around the recycle center. Perhaps rather than
banning them, there should be an attempt to provide for better receptacles for recycling.
Paper bags, unlike plastic bags, will decompose in the environment. I re-use these bags each shopping trip until it's
no longer possible. Have gotten many comments from clerks about their age. This is something that began way back
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when grocers were giving credit for bag re-use. I should not be punished with a paper bag fee that will be used to
address a 'perceived' plastic bag problem. I say perceived because it has been noted publicly that plastic bags make
up a small unspecified amount of the 10% plastic problem. The size of the problem isn't even known so I'm not sure
how we can evaluate the effectiveness of the ban.
In closing, I have lived in Ft. Collins for 40 yrs. We are not Boulder, Denver, or California but it seems that's what we
are striving to become. If I wanted to live in those places, that's where I'd be.
I STRONGLY OPPOSE plastic-bag ban. Plastic bags are a SMALL percent of the +/-10% plastic waste in FC. Big hassle
for stores & customers; little environmental benefit. Pandemic has caused economic devastation to businesses and
residents that will take years to recover from. Now is not the time for new, nonessential government laws
I think styrofoam might be an even greater problem than plastic bags.
Ban the plastic bags; skip the fee on paper bags, for now
I think the implementation of the plastic bag ban would be a terrible mistake. Reusable bags are a great way to carry
germs, are a hassle to carry around, and paying for paper bags (which are already available at most establishments)
is just unnecessary. I lived in Boulder briefly and went out of the area to do my shopping because they have a plastic
bag ban in place. I strongly oppose this and hope that enough people voice their opinion against this plastics ban.
This is a really stupid itea.
Like it!
Why don't you spend some money on convincing bag manufacturers to make biodegradable bags so we can use for
trash bags. Why are paper bags included? They're biodegradable
Why wait do long?
What are measures to avoid hygeine issues with customer reusable bags brought into the store?
Thank you for helping to promote the habit of using reusable bags and lessening our plastic waste. This will benefit
our natural areas, too, in lessening plastic bags and plastic litter outdoors.
I thank you for proposing these measures. I have been bringing my own bags to grocery shop for years. It's very easy
once you get in the habit. My brother lives in San Francisco where they have these measures and it works fine there.
There is too much plastic in our world and environment, and finding ways to reduce it is necessary and very much
appreciated. Thank you!!
please just make this ban happen, and make it effective in 2021.
I enthusiastically support FoCo’s efforts to ban plastics! Thanks
We desperately need to protect our one and only planet Earth and this is a huge step in that direction. Kudos to the
City of Fort Collins for proposing this very important measure to address this plastic issue.
We use the plastic bags from the store for pet waste and all household trash, also for certain light yard trash. If this
passes now we will have to buy trash bags made of...plastic. Plastic waste will still be the same, but at an increased
cost to me and somewhat of an inconvenience. Completely against this initiative.
Although I had used reusable cloth bags and boxes back when I shopped for groceries myself, since Covid-19 came,
I've been getting deliveries or curbside pick-up, which each time uses MANY bags- plastic or paper depending on the
store. I can't think of a safe or practical way to use resuable bags or boxes during the pandemic. Have others had
ideas?
Finding a good, viable alternative to plastic bags would go far to mitigating the problem - voluntarily and without an
edict. That has really been the reason this issue has failed the last couple of times it was proposed - no real solution
except the hope that it will work.
Last run to the grocery store, I had 12 plastic bags of food, mainly because the odd sizes of items didn't lend
themselves to putting a lot in a bag. If I come home with 12 or more paper bags, that is a lot of paper bulk to recycle.
What if I have already paid for the groceries before they are all bagged. What a mess. Before this goes to a vote in
April, I'd like to know more about these paper bags and their recycling. The banning of something without a good,
community-wide alternative in place just doesn't seem viable. And, no one is going to take a pillow-case full of cloth
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bags into a grocery story to haul out two weeks of groceries. If they did, think of how it would hold up the checkout
line. Given all this ranting, Trader Joe's does use paper bags effectively, but then again I only buy a few things at a
time there. And, since they don't charge a fee, there is no haggling over stuffing the most items in the fewest bags to
save the fee - and again holding up the checkout line.
On the fence about exempting the low income population, though cloth bags are available for free in many locations.
This will affect the pickup grocery program significantly, which we rely on especially because of covid! Plus, we use
ALL groceries bags a second time for home, camper, and storage. This ban assumes grab and throw away, which does
not take into consideration the repurpose efforts of many consumers. Plus, as a senior with limited income, charging
for paper adds insult.
I would like the implementation date to be much sooner.
I am moving from California to Fort Collins precisely to get out from under the effects of government restricting and
directing every aspect of our lives. Communicate to people why plastic bags are not a good idea, keep paper bags
free and let adults make good personal choices. Using this as yet one more way to subsidize the less fortunate
becomes stale rhetoric. If there is an economic impact from a policy how about we not use economic control to
implement judgment control? Let's allow people to make choices - it is called Freedom.
Look at other things first. Don't do things because Boulder does it.
COVID concerns only. Hopefully by may 2022 things are better.
I can't support plastic bag ban. We get our groceries in them and then reuse them for garbage and other uses.
Without the plastic bags received we will have to buy them - how does that help polution?
Long overdue. We need to change public attitude toward single use plastics.
Make sure to supply reusable bags to minority or low-income households that could be disproportionately affected
by the policy. Work with those communities to brainstorm best ways to implement, gain interest and cooperation.
It is very important to move forward with these changes.
This is a waste of time and resources. Not to mention you can’t even use reuse able bags at stores right now due to
Covid germ precautions. Let’s spend our time and citizen’s tax money on rebuilding our economy.
This is absolutely ridiculous. Especially in times such as now, why would we impact businesses even more with this
silly proposal. It’s time Fort Collins focus on real issues, and not these “feel good” measures proposed to keep pace
with Boulder.
Do remember that the city is a fraction of the larger community. Those of us who live outside the city limits use many
resources within the city because we have to. Therefore a ban does not just affect the people of the city of Ft.
Collins.
Another means of local bureaucracy and further Boulder-izing Fort Collins. I do, however, support reducing pollution
in a reasonable manner.
Paper bags to replace plastic is somewhat ok. Paper is recyclable plastic is not as recyclable. Understand the desire
to get rid of plastic but one needs some way to carry out what they buy at a store. Products may be too heavy for
paper items.
The city may want to consider cloth bags as an option.
Trouble is some stores do not want you to bring your own bags into the store.
Banning single use plastic grocery bags is a very simple way to lessen the burden on our landfills and reduce garbage
floating around the city. The focus on supporting low-income and underrepresented groups is important and I'm glad
to see it is a focus area. If Fort Collins wants to become zero waste and be a "green" city we must start to make these
types of changes, otherwise it is just talk.
I feel like the effort required to enact exemptions to a paper bag fee is not worth it. I think it would be better to
make reusable grocery bags more affordable while maintaining the quality of the grocery bags. However, at the
same time, I think it would be better to reward individuals for bringing their own grocery bags rather than punishing
them with a fee if they don't. I think it's important that policies focus on rewarding so that individuals feel they have
the freedom to choose. This would also put a more positive spin on going green.
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Why is there no information about the health impacts of the ban. Even before the pandemic, San Francisco had a
significant increase in food poisoning and similar because people do not properly clean their reusable bags. Now
with the pandemic, I regularly use disposable plastic bags to reduce contact with potentially infected surfaces,
including shopping cart handles, store refrigerator doors, gas station pumps, etc. And even excluding those uses, the
chances of getting Covid or future viruses on a reusable bag that is not properly sterilized and then transferred to
people is much higher than when you have disposable plastic bags. Note that MANY cities with disposable bans
suspended those bans when the pandemic hit. We will be living with increased health risks for years, this is NOT the
time to add a ban that will further increase health risks (even a tiny amount) when the bags themselves are such a
small part of our waste stream - and when we do not live next to the ocean.
Lived in Ashland, Oregon (which had identical ban) and it took a little retraining, but was totally effective and easy to
navigate once we got the hang of it.
Finally! Thank you for your work on this!!
Plastic bags make up less then 01% of the trash in the landfill, this has nothing to do with plastics or the environment
and everything to do with government taxing and control. It is unnecessary, a ban would not change anything and
only adds more taxes(fees) to already over-regulated citizenry. Thank you
It’s about time.
It’s easy to find reasons not to address seemingly small issues but this is a policy that has been implemented
successfully elsewhere and is a worthwhile endeavor.
Regarding the affects of paper bag costs to low income and tracking impacts. I do not feel that the added cost of a
paper bag is great enough to be a deterrent.
I believe the city can create a program to fund a reusable or compostable (ie. paper) bag program for
everyone/anyone who cannot afford reusable bags without making low income residents have to "qualify." Before
the advent of plastic, paper bags were provided as part of the cost of doing business.
Stores helped to create this problem and need to be part of the solution. I am tired of taxpayers footing the bill for
the cleanup of problems that industries have created.
I am assuming that the bag fee would not be outrageously expensive and can see no reason to wave the fee for
anyone. Waving the fees for certain classes of people would complicate matters and cause confusion for store
owners and customers alike.
I have been shocked that Fort Collins has not already passed this policy years ago. I am a strong proponent for this
policy being passed and implemented asap. I am happy to see that this is finally getting some attention. I moved here
from Austin, Tx and lived there when they banned plastic. Being someone that never remembered to bring in my
own reusable bags before the ban, it was a relatively easy transition. That ban changed how I view plastics and view
those that continue to unnecessarily use them (like for a handful of items that can easily be carried out) forever. We
bring our reusable bags for fruits/vegetables and check out. Plus, I have an overwhelming need to avoid buying
anything in plastic bags or containers as much as possible. I will be forever grateful that Austin banned plastic bags
years ago and helped me realize how easy it is to stop using them and how good it feels to know you are doing
something right for the environment. I'd be happy to volunteer helping with this effort!
There really is no good excuse for the use of single use plastic bags. Reusable bags are affordable and simply better.
I am from Austin, Tx where they instituted a ban on plastic bags. The strongest arguments I ever heard against it
were:
1. I like using the bags in car and bathroom trash cans.
2. What if I forget my bags? I don't want to pay when I already bought reusable bags.
3. This is just big government controlling our lives.
As you would expect, rural counties did not adopt similar measures, and they were proud not to. Ridiculous.
None of these arguments hold water.
Single-use plastics need to go to the extent possible. The medical industry is an enormous consumer of single-use
everything, but there are no reasonable alternatives. In the case of single-use plastic bags, there are plenty of
alternatives.
I would like to see that reusable grocery bags are made from cloth or other biodegradable fibers. Single-use plastic
bags require the harvesting and processing of petroleum which is a process we need to be limiting wherever
possible. They then become a source of pollution; to our streets, trails, communities, waterways, wildlife, and
people.
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The choice to ban single-use plastic bags is a no brainer.
always have reusable bags for sale at low price in every store. Discount for supplying your own reusable bag.
I would actually support this if you didn't have a fee for paper bags. First, grocery store plastic bags are not single
use - I never buy plastic trash bags, but I use grocery store bags for my trash, in addition to bringing my own bags to
the store to cut down a little on using plastic bags. Maybe you could start on a smaller scale - put a ban on plastic
bags at restaurants, etc. because those are primarily single use bags for most people since they get soiled and
thrown away immediately.
Plastic bag bans have been successful around the country, this is long overdue for fort colins.
Reducing plastic waste is extremely important for many reasons, and I believe this needs to be done as soon as
possible. I support this in any and every way!
When I was a kid, 40-50 years ago, everyone brought their own bags with them or used cardboard boxes provided by
the supermarket - why is it such a big deal to go back to that? Natural Grocers still does it...
LOVE this and hope it comes into action!!
You've already hamstrung businesses for all of 2020 with useless COVID policies. I see far more mask pollution than
plastic bag pollution. Let businesses decide for themselves how they want to handle this. Strongly enforce littering
laws already in effect instead of creating even more bureaucracy to manage fines, fees, auditing, and policing who is
poor and who is not. Stop meddling in every last aspect of our lives and spend this energy cleaning up the plastic that
is out there instead of complaining about it. Good grief.
Plastic bags aren't the only problem, and often times paper and plastic grocery bags are used as trash or recycling
bags, so removing them entirely will make people go buy small plastic trash bags. Single use plastic and styrofoam
from take out and single use plastic packaging are bigger culprits. Also, if this plastic bag ban applies to the plastic
produce bags in grocery stores, an alternative needs to be available for those who may not have or remembered
their reusable produce bags.
I feel that single use plastics are extremely harmful to the ecosystem that we care so deeply about here in FOCO. I
would love to see this policy rolled out sooner than 2022 if at all possible.
This is a great policy that will help reduce single use plastic pollution. I look forward to its implementation!
This is great, and I am very happy to see Fort Collins taking the initiative to help reduce plastic waste and pollution!
I suggest kicking this off with the city providing/selling at cost reusable bags... especially if those are also non-
plastic!!!!!
Enact the policy this year, 2021.
I believe putting a fee on a more eco-friendly option is very backwards thinking. If that was what was implemented I
think many people especially college students would decide to get fabric reusable bags and skip using any bags given
by grocers. This is still great for the environment, however it doesn’t get anything across. Love the idea but not the
business-man ideology behind it.
I also think there needs to be policy created that bans deceptive packaging used in abundance here in Fort Collins
and beyond. The main culprit "Clamshell" containers (like take out containers, and berry boxes) that are commonly
perceived as recyclable but are not actually being accepted as recycling here in FOCO. I learned this upsetting fact in
one of classes at CSU last semester. We should also provide insensitive for restaurants and grocers to switch to
compostable take out containers ONLY and provide city wide compost options which would limit the amount of food
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and packaging waste going into our nearly full landfill. However, each of these ideas, if put into action, need STRONG
educational material that is taught rather than listed on flyers that most folks just aren't reading. I honestly think it
would be the coolest thing ever if we had some sort of door to door education program up and running that would
provide a quick overview of the essentials regarding proper recycling and composting for our residents here in Fort
Collins. I'd volunteer for that in a heartbeat. LeAnna.Warren@colostate.edu (Majoring in Ecosystem Science and
Sustainability with a focus in Policy) P.S. I'm sharing this with some of my professors so hopefully you can get even
more feedback! Thank you for listening! Stay well :)
Ensuring better access to reusable bags! Lower costs on reusable bags and more available in more locations.
Seems like a good measure that would encourage regular reusable bag usage once Covid allows. It seems like the
only effective way to get rid of single use plastics is to make them unavailable or undesirable and I think this is a step
in the right direction. Particularly if the paper bag fee is waived for low income families, although I would like to hear
more about how that is determined. Not all low income families are receiving WIC/food stamps/etc and they deserve
to be granted the same leniency even if they're not receiving assistance.
I would caution against making the exemption process something that is extensive and requires proof of income or
something similar. Also, the paper bag alternatives should have handles to ensure that those with limited mobility
and dexterity can still carry the bags.
This is a great way to take action on things that need to be done. I think plastic bags are a great place to start. I also
think that some of the money from the paper bag fee needs to go to recycling education in schools as someone
who's gone through elementary middle school and high school in fort Collins I've never had education on recycling
except the education I'd seek on my own. So by implementing some recycling education into schools I think it would
be a lot better and inspire more youth to take action about environmental issues.
HOLY COW. With all that is going on in the world, you're back to focusing on plastic bags?? The last section of the
survey sounds like you're trying to hold murderers accountable. Look at all the extra brain damage that starting this
ban causes: audits, compliance, annual reports, annual reports on low income people, chasing penalties. Those are
poor retailers who don't need ANOTHER regulation and compliance to deal with. And why do they have to do all the
work? They are having to buy heaters at restaurants and other ridiculous things to just stay afloat right now.
Our city has said OVER and OVER that we do not want a ban on plastic bags and we certainly don't want to pay for
paper bags. I reuse all these items over and over again, so they are completely worn out by the time they get
RECYCLED!
Also, I used cloth diapers on my children, but I don't take away everyone else's right to use disposable, which are way
worse for the environment than plastic bags. Do you think people would like me to say they can't use disposable
diapers any more? Would you like that?
Let's focus on the REAL NEEDS of this city...PEOPLE, not plastic. What about the homeless? The trafficked children in
Larimer County? The poor local retailers who are suffering under lockdowns all these months? The mental illness?
The drug abuse?
PLEASE do not keep resurrecting this. We have recycling. Somebody please listen to Ken Summers and Wade Troxell
on this issue. I've lived here for over 40 years and this city is trying to be like Denver and Boulder. We don't want to
be like Denver and Boulder and other communities like that. Look how expensive it is to live there and how many
problems they have. I don't want to leave. I want all the people who fled other states to come here because they
mandated things that didn't work, to stop trying to make those failed policies work here.
P.S. Look at all the things you are asking us on the next page. I hope you will listen to all the people's answers, not
just those who fit what you're looking for.
My only concern with the paper bag fee is that those who struggle financially won’t be able to purchase reusable
bags or paper bags. Maybe consider no fee for them?
I feel that this policy would greatly influence the fight for stopping climate change and would put big industries in a
position to be held responsible for contributing to the climate change effort. I feel that it would be difficult to
implement an exemption for lower-income individuals and families as many of these people would not want to
advertise this while grocery shopping. To get around this, a sort of membership or id card could be issued that allows
them to scan the code and access exemption (i am thinking along the lines of soopercards, safeway club cards, etc.)
Perhaps consider giving low income customers reusable bags instead of paper bags
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I don't believe the grocer should be subject to civil penalties - it would make more sense to penalize the grocery
stores as they would be providing these products.
Instead of allowing an exemption to low-income individuals - why not focus efforts on providing free reusable bags
for them? Let's create a system perhaps in the actual grocery stores where low-income individuals could pick them
up for free, with of course some protocol in place.
Has there been any research to see if people use reusable bags correctly? What is the percentage of these bags that
end up in the landfill? What materials will the City-provided bags be made of?
Please enact this policy. It's been too long that we let big businesses control sustainability. This is a move to being
more localized.
Implement sooner.
I think we should not punish low-income households, but we do need a way for the current social climate to change
towards renewable options, ei reusable bags, paper, or other compostable options. We need to pioneer forward
options for being green in our community.
A fee on paper bags has NOTHING to do with the pollution caused by plastic bags. It just looks like an excuse for the
City to generate revenue from fees.
To raise awareness about the policy, perhaps the City could make reusable bags available for people to pick up and
start using, like the bags we get at the farmer's market.
I think it is a good idea. We need to make sure to protect local businesses and make sure to hold the larger
corporations in town accountable to high standards. We also need to make sure that those who may be of lower-
income status are still able to function and are not indirectly discriminated against with this policy.
I think that corporations (grocery stores in this case) should be implementing these eco-friendly policies, but since
they don't, they shouldn't get any portion of the paper bag fee (or any other kick-back) so that the city can use it
towards other ways of mitigating and minimizing the use of plastic products. I think restaurants should be next with
single-use cups and straws being banned.
Instead of banning plastic bags, I recommend charging a plastic bag tax for big grocers.
Let businesses decide whether to charge a paper bag fee or increase prices of goods. I don’t like the idea of
Government deciding on a “fair” fee. Let the market decide on that. Get money for the policy via taxing businesses
that use plastic bags.
I agree with banning plastic bags, but I don't agree with charging a fee for paper bags.
Please, please do something comprehensive. I am a young student who wants to live here his whole life and we can
be so much better. Do it for me, my peers and my future children.
This policy will provide a HUGE change and create a big positive impact on the environment. PASS THIS POLICY !! The
Earth can't take any more plastic
We have seen the negative effects of plastic bags and should emphasize alternatives.
I would urge the council to implement the policy sooner than the proposed date. We need change now. Also, the city
should design a reusable bag (I’ve seen other Colorado cities do this) that is given out at events for free to encourage
use of reusable bags.
This is a great plan!! We should of been doing it years ago but better late than never
You can charge for plastic bags to encourage the use ot reuseable bags.
Paper bags are also an issue in terms of pollution so I think it would also be a good idea to phase those out as well.
I am in favor of a plastics ban, but not a paper bag ban. People need to carry things in something, and during covid,
nobody wants to wash all those cloth bags continuously.
Stores should provide some type of bagging without a fee and paper bags are much better than plastic, so this should
be the obvious choice.
Reusable bags are a low cost item that can be reused many times and can often be found at thrift stores for next to
nothing. Low income families can afford this and if your intent is to help the environment, then income shouldn't
create any exemptions.
I'm all for the intended outcome -- reducing single-use plastics -- but generally against the proposed solution (putting
the financial onus for the outcome on the individual vs. say, manufacturers). Corporations should be the target.
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It is time to ban plastic bags.
Shortsighted policy. A fee on paper bags will have a larger NEGATIVE carbon impact than whatever anyone hopes to
save. There is also an opportunity cost in such a fee for a useless policy. What is the aim to achieve? This has not
been fully thought through as was blatantly obvious in the very poor presentation before the Council Worksession.
need to ensure that this proposed policy does not disproportionately impact smaller and independent grocers and
food markets such as Beaver's, Food Co-Op and Olive Tree Middle Eastern Market.
Reusable bags are cheap and a one-time purchase. People choose plastic because it is normal. If paper and reusable
is the norm, then no one will have a hard time adjusting.
I’ve been waiting for this ban for years. We previously lived in Seattle, WA where a similar measure was
implemented which had no negative impact on my grocery shopping experience.
This needs to go beyond grocers to all large users of plastic bags
Ban plastics yes. Keep government out of it from there unless there are large box stores that fail to comply after 6
months. Leave the little stores alone. Government oversight is rarely effective and is costly. We don’t need a division
of “bag police.” The city could provide incentives on cloth bag purchases. Remember though many “cloth” reusable
bags are also made from plastics.
Ensure there is education throughout the community, maybe via advertising, for how this will be implemented and
how beneficial it will be. Also, ensure that people aren't just forced to go out and buy bags. Maybe for a few weeks
prior, grocers can sell reusable bags at a discount for people to begin accumulating before this gets passed.
I think this is poor timing to be pushing this initiative
In the middle of a pandemic we are worried about plastic bags??? I see more face masks littered on the streets then
plastic bags. Are we going to ban those? I highly doubt it.
- I moved here weeks ago from Walnut Creek, CA where the plastic bag ban is in effect for several years with no
problem. People bring their reusable shopping bags to the stores or pay 10c for paper bags/bag.
- Would be a good incentive for non-chain stores some kind of a plastic bag "buy-back" or exchange for paper bags
for the stock they already have and won't be able to use after a ban.
I don’t understand the need for a paper bag fee to pay for the city to check on grocers who contribute to the tax base
already. If you want to check on compliance, find another way to fund!
There should be a city-wide effort to provide cloth or reusable bags to every household before a ban on plastics is
implemented. Fund it with a grant from Otter Box, Bohemian Foundation, Downtown Business Association, or other
local benefactors and include local sewing/seamstress, scouting and charity groups to sew the bags.
This is ridiculous and should not be managed by City government.
Thank you for taking action,
Before you make any decisions, I would like to see Fort Collins spend some time studying other areas that have
implemented plastic bag bans. Single-use plastic is an issue that all of the world has to deal with. I am sure many
council members have read the study by Rebecca Taylor, from 2019, that studied the ban in CA. If you have not, it is
available on NPR. After single-use plastic bags were banned, small, 4-gallon size plastic trash bags rose in sales of
120%, 8-gallon plastic bags rose 70%. Also, brown paper bag use increased.
Have you studied what happened in Boulder after the ban? Have they had an increase in sales of small, thicker
plastic bags?
Banning plastic or charging for paper or plastic seems more of a punishment for many people that care a great deal
about the environment and marginalized residents.
I bring my reusable bags and bag the groceries myself at self checkout, and I utilize the Fort Collins plastic recycling
bins, and I have reusable produce bags, we use the metal straws. I am not against reducing single use plastic, but I
think banning the bag is not the answer.
A fee waiver for low-income people would be difficult to administer and stigmatize the people requesting the
exemption. Instead, I advocate finding ways to give them reusable bags of their own.
You'll also need to deal with the smaller plastic bags in grocery produce sections. They're especially single-use — at
least the plastic grocery-carrying bags last longer and can be used for other purposes.
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Lastly, I'm unclear if the ban includes purchased plastic bags, e.g., lawn and leaf bags. If so, that's going to rile up a lot
of citizens, fast, unless you can offer good alternatives.
Figure out a way to provide reusable bags or paper bags for people who can’t afford them. Can paper bags be re-
used?
This is a really stupid idea.
Plastic reduction/elimination is so important....please do all your can to make this initiative happen
Excellent. I live in Greeley and we are hoping that if Fort Collins can set the bar, those of us in neighboring, less
progressive communities, will benefit and our communities will follow.
This has been tried before and was repealed, has it not? Grocery/Store plastic bags are just one thin film item we
need to deal with. Consider all of the plastic that comes with amazon shipments or many of the non-food products
we buy. It'd be my view that we prioritize how to recycle/contain all of that, rather than focusing on a single type like
grocery bags. I've been reading that the timberline recycling center can accept these kinds of items; please continue
to promote and support that as a drop-off point. I am looking into making it a habit to bringing things there
specifically. Thank you for soliciting feedback!
Should be done sooner than what is proposed.
For low income persons, could they be supplied with 2-3 bags that are recyclable, free of charge? They would need
to use those always, or pay for paper bags if they didn't bring. It would only take 1-2 times of forgetting to
remember.
STOP! Just STOP!! We're in the middle of a GLOBAL PANDEMIC and we DO NOT AT ALL want people bringing in their
gross, never washed, disgusting (and this was BEFORE THE PANDEMIC) re-useable bags. When you truly look at the
impact, you can make THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS of plastic bags for the environmental impact of making a
SINGLE re-useable bag! Stop with the propaganda!!! This is a rich person's way of thinking. How are people that
ride the bus, or bike, or walk to the grocery store supposed to carry all the necessary re-useable bags one would
need??? What are we supposed to do when we have to purchase more than the bags that we brought??? This has
been knocked down TIME AND TIME AND TIME AGAIN!! JUST STOP!!!!
Why limit this to grocers. As I noted in correspondence with City Council, Walmart automatically starts bagging your
merchandise as soon as the checkout process starts unless you tell them "I don't need a bag." I am talking about
merchandise other than groceries, given that Walmarts have a grocery section. Many retailers that don't sell
groceries do the same thing. Why limit this proposed policy to just grocery stores? On the other hand, the larger,
heavier plastic bags are nice to get sometimes at stores. I have some that I have been using for years for various
purposes.
I either reuse the plastic bags or recycle them. My newspapers need a plastic bag and I recycle them.
This policy is only a start! I highly favor abolition of wimpy single-use plastic bags. That is tougher right now because
of concern with virus transmission, I know, but ways can be found!
It is not a problem to carry a collapsible shopping bag, or make one available for a price - small at first, then higher,
maybe?
European countries use strong multi-use plastic bags at groceries. The customer buys them for a pretty high price at
checkout if necessary. The bags are pretty big with strong handles, handsome, durable, easy to pack, and
TREASURED, partly because of the cost!
No disposable plastic foodware is ever used - even at outdoor festivals, etc. (What is it with straws here?) Regular
metal, porcelain, and glass is used, and if outdoors or in a court, the customer pays a deposit - which is returned
when the dishes are turned in to be washed.
It is just fine! There are no trash cans! No one complains!
(I am not European - just a regular Coloradoan.)
While I do understand the need to reduce plastic pollution- my /our strong objection is to the proposed FEE imposed
on paper bags. Seniors, on fixed incomes should be exempt from ALL FEES, it's not enough to just exempt low
income residents, most seniors need to protect their savings, whether or not they might qualify for a low income
exemption! Seniors are constantly told it is their responsibility to financially prepare for their financial future, that
they shouldn't rely on Social Security etc so ALL savings that seniors have accrued should be protected for their
future needs. IF you exempt ALL seniors for paper bag fees, then I would support a ban on plastic bags!
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Respectfully submitted.
Not sure a fee on the paper bag will get broad support and help with consumer behaviors. I understand that paper
bags cost more for the grocer but changing habits to be more eco friendly should be rewarded not punished/fee'd
I would suggest annual reporting for first 5-6 years as the community transitions, then a review of the policy once a
decade.
People do use the plastic bag for a secondary use or even a third use. Also, there are programs at grocery stores to
drop off your used bags and have them recycled. Do you get to recoup your fees paid if you recycle your bags?
Maybe instead of charging people and penalizing citizens you reward citizens for recycling.
I think if we are going to encourage use of paper bags we should not impose a fee, seems counter productive. Isn't
the city currently mitigaging the recoveing of plastic? Reussable bags should be at the cost of the shopper, not the
grocery store.
Strongly in support of banning plastic bags; however, fees on paper bags seems to introduce more friction to this
proposal than necessary. Also, at first blush, attempting to identify and differentiate low-income shoppers adds to
the overhead of this proposal. Perhaps incentivizing grocers that participate in this policy with a monthly stipend to
purchase paper bags in bulk would help grease the wheels? Grocers reusing their excess cardboard containers
(similar to Costco) would be another angle? Bronze - Silver - Gold rating/levels for grocers depending on their policy
adherence/participation, number of paper bags used (trends) and reusing existing on-hand materials would count
towards the rating program.
Let's help make grocers *want* to participate vs. penalizing them and their shoppers. Funding this approach,
obviously, is the challenge, but I can't imagine buying bulk paper bags is *that* cost prohibitive. The PR/Marketing
win for grocers is icing on the cake, especially for a generally eco-conscious population like Fort Collins.
I don't see a lot of evidence this is a needed change. It feels very "trendy" without vetting the cost/benefits. Much
more evidence and data is needed before fast tracking a policy change like this.
Before you fine and condem, try same effort beginning now to change habits. Who is doing all the take-out food and
not supporting you. What do seniors and low income need when you take away their bags...I use two a week. Make
a project to give all alternative shopping bags. Shop keepers encourage customers not to use plastic now. Your
negative approach will achieve and the rich and casual will continue and the low income will still need
encouragement so figure that out and see what you need to fix by fee.
How in the world is there an impact on "historically underrepresented groups". Honestly, I've been using my own
shopping bags for decades, and I used to be poorer that the "low-income households" here in Fort Collins. Reusable
shopping bags are just bags. They are not an economic burden to anyone.
Adding on to "An exemption to the paper bag fee for low-income customers" I think the fee should be waived for
EBT/food stamps/WIC recipients only. How else would someone 'prove' they're low income enough for this fee?
Please assure that check-out workers will fill the bags we bring in and also fill the paper bags that are purchased.
Covid-19 concerns can be overcome by May of 2022.
For goodness sakes, there need be more than one way to carry purchases from stores to home. Leave the current
available bags alone and institute NO policy that is monetarily punitive to anyone for their bag of choice. Just stop it.
I am 100% in line with recycling!.....I do it daily without fail. If we prohibit plastic bags and charge for paper bags,
what is the perception that the customer will use to bag his groceries? Are we leaning to everyone bringing their own
reusable bags?
The sooner the better
Long overdue
Separate the plastic bag ban from the fee for paper bags. Do not hold the vote in the middle of a pandemic when
some stores are prohibiting the use of reusable bags.
During Covid-19 unable to use my own bags unless I bag them.Recently in Eagle County NO PLASTIC bags available-
boxes were available or buy in sore bags.
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Depends on COVID status. Local grocery stores will not bag groceries into personal reusable bags due to COVID. This
creates long wait times to check out as customers bag their own groceries. Strong concerns related to equity and
low income families.
The sooner the better!
A good way to help the environment!
The proposed policy discriminates against seniors and the disabled. Grocery stores refuse to fill customer-provided
bags, and as a senior, I can’t bag my own groceries fast enough to keep the line moving. I’ve tried to do it, but people
shame me because they have to wait. It’s humiliating.
The new policy would require me to purchase bags each time I go to the store, which I cannot afford. I do not
qualify as low income, but I do not have any money to spare. I would only support this if stores were required to fill
the customer’s bags, which I’m sure they would not like,
As someone who works at a food store, I've seen first hand at how much thin film plastics typically are not recycled
and end up in the landfill or littering the landscape. I work at Lucky's Market and we recycle most of our thin film
plastics at Timberline Recycle Center weekly. This has been ongoing shortly after our store opened in early 2019. To
my knowledge, many stores in Fort Collins do not recycle thin film plastics (shrink wrap, plastic product wrap, bulk
film wrapping...), partly due to the service not easily available. A small store like Lucky's recycles 10 55gl bags weekly
on average. There should be incentives for stores to do the same.
As for banning the use of plastic bags, alternative bags could also be implemented in replacement for bags that are
still needed (bags for meat products, single serve foods, produce...). Biodegradable, plant based bags could be an
added solution. Many European countries only use this style bag. Sometimes a small fee is changed as well.
Changing one's habit is often the hardest task to make a difference.
I'd love to give more input or info if interested.
Samsonite
receiver.ftc47@luckysmarket.com
Getting rid of plastick bags is such a minor issue compared to the lack of recycling/incouraging more recyclable
plastics. Plastic grocery sacks and paper bags can be repuprosed many times and enviormentaly responably
produced. Studys have shown that resuable totes and bags are actually more detremental to the enviorment in the
long run,
This is so needed in our city. The amount of plastic in our oceans and waterways is hard to fathom. We need to do
something. I strongly support this measure!
Why? You have already made up your minds. You don't want to hear from people that disagree with you.
Council should have the authority to apply this ban over a wider demographic of businesses.
There is a lot of underlying information needed on these questions before good choices can be made. It's
problematic to express a strong opinion on an issue without knowing the deeper questions that affect the issue. Over
all, I think we need to address our throw-away culture, accept small inconveniences, and provide support to those
for whom the inconveniences are not so small. During covid I have changed my behavior to accept more
plastic/throw away packaging than I have in many years. That has been a practical--even necessary--choice, but it is
one more challenge in a hard year.
Covid-19 has impacted many financially in Fort Collins, introducing a plastic bag policy in 2022 may be too soon for
some stores/residents. Vitamin Cottage has done this for a few years and often will provide free sustainable bags on
Earth Day etc. Grocers used to offer a 5 cent refund if you provided your own bags, this policy has gone and needs to
reintroduced during the introductory program.
My family has always reused plastic grocery and paper bags. I have never purchased trash liners in my life, I always
use the plastic bags for waste. A ban would create more plastic waste for my family as I would have to buy
commercial bags for trash liners. A better idea is to ban plastic to go containers and Styrofoam at all restaurants and
grocery stores. That would have a much bigger impact locally and globally.
As a general rule, my wife and I have reusable cloth bags that we take with us whenever we go shopping. This effort
that you're proposing is a step in the right direction. It's not a question of 'If' we should do this, but 'When' we should
do this and now is the time given the amount of plastic pollution that we're seeing and hearing about.
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It would seem to me that distributing free reusable cloth bags to low income families would be a better way to help
them than discounting paper bags. For example, they could be given freely to anyone using food stamps. The cost of
the reusable bags could be paid for by the grocer's savings from supplying plastic and paper bags or by a paper bag
fee. Also, I'd suggest that washable cloth bags, whether cotton or nylon, should be the optimum choice. Reusable
heavy plastic bags just reinforces the oil and gas industry to inundate us with more plastic.
Additionally, since we can no longer recycle many of the plastics we used to recycle, my trash is now almost entirely
clam shells and other non-recyclable plastics. What is the future for getting manufacturers to quit using these? My
trash volume is up because of them. I try to not buy things in them, but it's very difficult since so many foods and
other items are in plastic.
I disagree with a ban on plastic bags and a bureaucracy to be built around it.
Strongly support getting rid of plastics!
I do not support this new policy. You seem to be solving a problem that doesn't exist. Plastic bags are such a tiny
portion of plastic waste, and this only punishes the most vulnerable in our society. With so many people now using
grocery pickup and delivery, this doesn't address that at all. The fact that many stores banned reusable bags makes
this even more ridiculous. If you think there is a problem, educate the public. P.S. I always use reusable shopping
bags.
A portion of the paper bag fee can be used to provide low income households with reusable bags. The fee should
stay in place for low income to encourage the use of provided reusable bags. Fort Collins reusable bags can be sold to
everyone with proceeds supporting the program of providing low income households with reusable bags. This would
also help not to put a stigma of the bags being a sign of low income.
It’s past time to pass this policy!
Natural Grocers doesn't provide bags. Period. That's the way to do it. Stop all this regulation garbage.
We already told you that we dont support this plastic bag ban a couple years ago. Now this is back and you are
wanting to charge a fee for paper bags? No. Just No.
Quit putting everything that loses back on a ballot. I reuse my paper and plastic bags. If you charge a fee I’ll be forced
to go out and buy plastic garbage bags and dog poop bags. I put my bags to good use.
Having travelled and stayed in Hawaii for several years for several weeks, I have seen the absolute success of
eliminating plastic bags. Please remember, however, that this is only a START of the actions the city can take. Single
use plastics are NEXT!
Excellent idea! I'd add the net bags that "cuties" (oranges) come in. They shed plastic EVERYWHERE.
Include in the proposed policy the requirement that trash collectors, landlords, etc can NOT require garbage to be
placed in plastic bags. Without this requirement, I would vote against any ban. I won't buy plastic bags for the small
amount of trash i generate each week.
One of the largest grocery stores in Fort Collins has already announced they are going to get rid of plastic bags. The
others will do so as well. We don't need a government program to regulate a dying issue. This is a feel good
program to make people feel that the city is doing something. Education is the answer, not a tax discussed as a fee.
Covid has disrupted so much and you want to impose fees for plastics?? What are the restaurants/ take out going to
do??. Don't you have more important issues facing our community. This is ridiculous.
Just eliminate bags. No fees. Hawaii has a no plastic bag policy...works great.
Break us in before the fees start!
I don't think a bag ban will reduce overall plastic bags. I use the grocery bags to gather dog droppings and for my
own trash. The truth is, I use reusable bags for grocery shopping, and get plastic shopping bags from family
members who do not use reusable ones. If there is a bag ban, I will have to purchase bags to use for dog droppings
and for trash in my home. I think a better reduction in plastic bags for Fort Collins to do right now is to eliminate the
requirement for us to bag our trash inside the trash carts. The idea that handling unbagged trash is dangerous for
the trash collectors was possibility a year ago, but is clearly known to be untrue now. So eliminate that requirement
and you will keep tens of thousands of large plastic bags out of the pollution stream. I think it makes more sense to
let the market determine what people use for grocery bags.
Low income residents could be provided with free reusable bags supported in part by bag fees. If we want to
encourage the use of reusable bags, then let’s do it...not create the complications of determine who does/does not
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qualify for free paper bags. And, generally, more “carrot” and less “stick”. Figure out what it takes to get the stores
EXCITED about participating.
Ban plastic bags for small retailers also.
This should not start until the pandemic is over. As someone who has only done curbside pickup for groceries during
this time (and previously used my own reusable bags), I'm not happy about all the plastic bags groceries are packed
in (I do recycle them) I would prefer my groceries in paper bags, but that's not an option at the grocery stores.
You are putting a large effort to solve a small problem. If you ban plastic bags you would generate a much larger use
of separately purchased bags. The problems that have been identified do not seem to exist in Fort Collins. The
current bag recycling programs would be decimated. The terms to be used are recycle and REUSE. These bags are
REUSED to contain biological waste such as personal hygeine products and butt wipes. The remainder is recycled
using the recycling center and collection zones at each supermarket.
We should be solving real and larger problems with our waste stream.
I’m happy to get rid of plastic bags entirely. However I watched the Jan work session and agree the goal of the policy
is not entirely clear or transparent (to the public). If it is to reduce plastic pollution as Ross Cuniff stated, then what
other campaigns or efforts are in place to reduce litter and what are the aspects of plastic mitigation? Is the city
hiring folks to pick up litter or to do a litter audit?
Additionally, I think it would be useful to show (the public) how much plastic film (mostly bags) is collected at the
TRC. What is the volume and tonnage of this material? I think it will shock folks that such lightweight single-use
material becomes such a mass.
For a progressive city you have been very slow to make this change. Might enlist sewers to make cloth bags at the
cost of plastic and paper bags to help low income families make the switch. Church groups and volunteer groups
might be able to assist in getting bags made
I strongly support "An exemption to the paper bag fee for low-income customers," however it is not clear how this
will be enforced. What is the cut-off for low-income customers? Does this only apply to customers who are using
WIC or some other food assistance program?
I think the proposed policy is bad policy, so answering the questions is troublesome. I agree single use bags should be
discouraged.
I don't understand your questions about where these fees would go. I don't think the city should get any money from
this policy. Maybe Council should just set the price of single use bags to something "very expensive" and the grocery
stores get to keep 100% of it to encourage people to bring their own bags. Make it a buck a piece. . . I think it
wouldn't take long. What is council's goal? To raise revenue or to lessen the use of single use bags? If you don't
exempt the single use bags from city tax then you would get your $0.0385 cents per bag.. . .
I do not know what this would mean for other bag users, or why grocery stores are being singled out. Why just
grocery stores?
Then if (and you should) equally applying this law to others, I don't know what the impacts of this would mean for,
say, restaurants a time of pandemic passing out a ton of to go food. People would have to bring their own bags to a
restaurant? What if the to go sizes were incompatible with he food or it was unstable and leaky? Going with my plan
of charging a buck a piece it starts to look pretty expensive. . . .but at least it would be fair.
Singling out (large) grocery stores is bad policy.
The city has no doubt researched other cities policies that are successful in eliminating single use plastic and should
apply that information as much as possible to Ft. Collins.
How do you propose to determine who is income? What is the income threshold? How will low income
people/families be identified? How will they be exempted from the bag fee? How do you propose to ban plastic
packaging?
Plastic bags, cups, straws and similar items That can be replaced by paper should be eliminated . There should be a
way to recycle styrofoam
Strong supporter!
America is about the only company left in the world where you can get the free, flimsy one-use plastic bags, primarily
due to oil company lobbies. This needs to change! We lived several years in Germany, and folks were accustomed to
buying and re-using their own substantial plastic shopping bags. Grocers and others can sell these at the registers to
recoup their losses from changing over.
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I am supportive of banning plastic bags, but am not supportive of grocers charging a fee for paper bags unless there
is assurance that they will not also increase their prices to accommodate a de facto paper bag fee.
I don't agree with this much government overreach dictating consumer behavior all the while driving up cost to the
everyday consumer and businesses. Drive fees up to create more government inefficiencies. What is the
environmental impact to the added government oversight? Paper to mail compliance reports, statements, warnings.
Added smog emissions and oil consumption for traveling for compliance checks, electricity usage and increased
waste produced for added staffing increased etc.... this measure seems very short sighted.
I think the city already does too much civic engineering. I never liked the impact of favoring MAX buses over other
traffic, which led to very long wait times getting through intersections on Horsetooth for example.I use reusable
grocery bags already. But to put a fee on paper seems positively disingenuous to me. Plastic bags--they can disappear
for all I care.
Why not ban plastic but NOT put a fee on paper bags? What do these two have to go together?
Please, please institute a ban on plastic bags!!!
This should also include pressure on suppliers to find other ways to package their products that don't have such a
negative impact on the environment
Can you identify low-income households on the fly in grocery stores? Why not provide one or two reusable bags free
for such households? Then they would not have to continuously "prove" that they are "eligible" for free paper bags.
Urgent action is needed regarding plastic waste, as China stopped accepting. We must take immediate action.
Get it done already, provide low income or needy individuals with a few free bags. Implement it now, do not use
consultants to gather data and spend any more taxpayer money. Put more costs on developers to provide funding
for the population increase they bring. Big grocers should not retain any monies from the county or city. They are
part of the current plastic problem. The onus should be on them to do this anyway without govt interference.
I suspect this policy would be better accepted by the public if it did not include the paper bag fee. Plastic is the real
enemy here and you don’t have to win over those of us who already know it. Paper bags are a huge improvement
over plastic, impact-wise, but not incredibly convenient; this natural consequence may motivate folks more
effectively than evoking anger over the fee.
First steps in banning plastic bags, great! Too much plastic everywhere!
I support the plan that commercial outlets will provide reusable bags at no charge or a low charge to encourage their
widespread adoption.
Ban that shit!!!!
Education not more government and fines or fees. The money will just be misused
I currently use/recycle the plastic bagsi get from the grocery store for garbage as many that I know do... e.g. dirty
diapers, contaminated tissues. This would just mean that I have to buy plastic bags and would not save our
environment from plastic bags.
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Please stop using tax dollars to control individuals and their relationships.
The city does not own the plastic, the business, the landfill or the individuals that live in Fort Collins. It takes a belief
of ownership to control other people and their actions.
The city has ordinances controlling throwing away trash and littering in public spaces. If bags in trees, like the picture
shows, are the problem you’re looking to control, there are many ways to achieve your end without taking
ownership of other humans and their behavior. You can make cleaning up streets and parks popular, empty city trash
cans more often, ticket people for littering, ticket people for leaving their trash at their camp sites... lots of ways to
achieve your goal without creating new, more laws and fees and regulations...
About bags specifically, what types of plastics will you regulate? Will you define “plastic” in the rules? Reusable
plastic bags like those from ikea? If I use my fleece (plastic) to carry my milk? Can I still buy rolls of plastic bags to pick
up dog poo? Will you still dispense these bags at dog parks? If the plastic bag doesn’t have handles and is used to
hold produce while in a store, is that allowed? Can I carry 5 apples in that bag? How about the pre-packaged plastic
bag holding 5 apples already? Can I carry that out of the store? How about bags that are compostable and look like
plastic?
Please, in a world where we need zoning changes to allow more housing, caps on city owned utility expenses,
businesses crushed by being forced to close for months and all the strain people have endured this last year, stop
looking for more ways to force people to do what you want. Stop controlling people.
Mike Salza
salzamike@gmail.com
202-701-9254
I do not want to see low income folks having to pay more but would suggest that a distribution of reusable bags to
selected groups/areas be tried. Trying to exempt those individuals at the point of sale sounds like a difficult process
so I am having trouble supporting it.
I am glad to see that plastic covers for newspapers are not included this time....I take two a day (in my ongoing
mission to support the print industry--especially the reporters) and would not look forward to having to drape my
living room with wet newspapers as they dry out.
Sadly this measure will not reduce my use of plastic. I now use the plastic grocery bags to hold the used clumping
litter produced by my two large indoor cats one of whom has kidney problems producing a large amount of used
litter. I will just have to switch to using a different plastic bag or risk having my trash company scatter litter all over
the street. I may try using paper bags but not sure that will work well. Wish there was a better way to deal with used
litter.
Overall, I strongly support this proposal. Change is hard and scary for some; I would imagine much resistance will
come from that as opposed to anti-environment leanings.
We have bag recycling policies from our major retailers and the City of Fort Collins. I would enhance the recycling
and reuse education efforts of the city instead of this bag tax. The cloth reusable bags that come into the stores, that
I see in line, are grungy and disgusting. Meat and its juices are going in the bag that had vegetables last time. You are
requiring grocery employees to handle many bags an hour and they are passing the germs from one family to
another, PLUS exposing themselves to ALL of this bacteria. Have we learned nothing from this PANDEMIC?Let people
decide for themselves about what type of bag to use. We do not need to add another department to the city coffers
for managing this program. Make plastic bag return even easier than it is now. Walmart, for example, allows all bags
from any store to be returned in their giant bins. The bins are located by the entry doors and there is no need to
even enter the store to recycle. We reuse our plastic bags for trash can liners and item storage. If residents want to
participate in a bag program they can move somewhere without wind, clean up where you see trash, or move to a
city that feels the need to mandate policies without thinking about what other harms the policies may cause.
I reuse my plastic bags all the time. Why should I have to pay to buy additional bags??
How will grocery stores be able to deliver curb side and delivered groceries throughout the COVID-19 pandemic
without plastic bag? If you charge extra fees many will probably go back to filling the aisles for grocery shopping.
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Costco and SAMS reuse cardboard boxes. Maybe grocery stores could offer something similar? I would favor some
voluntary methods to cut back on plastic usage versus more government regulations.
At the onset of, it was mentioned by the CDC that cloth bags could carry the virus as people rarely wash them. To
help stop the spread, plastic was used in most grocery stores. If you brought cloth bags with, you had to load them
yourself and inside your basket. As a side note, I reuse my single use plastic bags to pick up yard trash, other people's
dog poop in my yard, as trash can liners in my bathrooms and many other things. A cure for the issue of single use
plastic, require the local recycle trash companies and dumps to recycle plastic of all kinds, paper of all kinds and glass
of all kinds. This would keep these items out of the landfill. I know the recycle companies only want to recycle what
they can make money on but as the City we should make them recycle all or get a contract with a different company.
I love to see the many efforts that Fort Collins is making in regard to environmental conservation and I really hope to
see this movement progress.
I've been using reusable bags for over 30 years. I know that it doesn't take much to remember to bring them.
Perhaps providing a free one or two for low income people might help their burden.
We are in this together, whether or not people believe in it. The only way to get many people to reduce is to force
them to through such restrictions. They will easily remember to grab their reusable bags if they know they will have
to pay extra for a paper one, and plastic should not even be an option. Furthermore, it's silly to allow an exemption
for anyone, regardless of income. If they cannot afford a $1 reusable bag, you could provide a set of bags directly to
them or maybe allow this product to be purchased with their SNAP benefits while the charge for the paper bag
would not be allowed. Just a thought.
I spend a lot of time on the river in the spring and summer, and believe me, it's WAY more than the occasional bottle
floating downstream. Obviously people won't make the best choices 100% of the time unless the other options are
removed from the equation.
We need to leap ahead and ban all single-use plastics, too. If it cannot be recycled, it should not be allowed.
I strongly support plastic being removed from our environment. A plastic bag got caught high in a tree in our yard
during the last wind storm and is a reminder of the pervasiveness of plastics in our life.
I do not support any portion of this initiative that disproportionately effects poor or working class
Our plastic container/bag use has exploded with Covid-19 and not a word. We need to stop wasting money and
enforcing regulation after regulation on our citizens. Most citizens are environmentally conscious and those who
aren't, will probably never be. Charging them a few cents for a paper bag will not change their tune. Let's focus on
utilizing our time, energy and resources into HELPING all of our small businesses who have been devastated by these
shut downs. (Just got to the Demographic questions. Are you kidding me? What does my race, gender etc. have to
do with plastic bag usage? I am so sick of the leftist agenda seeping into every aspect of society.
Love it if it can be implemented without hardship to low income families and small, locally-owned businesses.
Another consideration: do low income families want to be identified by the plastic bags they're carrying? Can we
implement a program where we provide re useable bags for them to keep in their cars or on the buses somehow?
Thanks!
What is the cost difference for the business to switch to paper? You have not addressed if customers use their own
plastic/poly reusable bag. No fee if you provide your own bag. No fee period. The stores can wrap that into their
costs. Fines for non-compliance. AS a mother who taught her kids to recycle I have always been disappointed in the
lack of support from the city for recycling in Restaurants (Cafe Rio where you toss the entire aluminum plate away).
Make it a city wide campaign to go green. All paper products are recycled/all aluminum is recycled/ all glass is
recycled/all plastics where it applies is recycled. Throw away culture has to end NOW. Tax breaks for businesses who
comply (money talks) and fines if not in compliance which goes to pay for the recycling program. Low income
households can be given reuseable poly bags through an income assist program if they qualify. Extend this program
to restaurants as well.
I know you think you are helping the environment but things like exempting certain people groups from the paper
bag fee just proves that it is yet another tax. Stop treating people differently as that is also just another form of
discrimination. If the fee is deemed to much for poor people, then it should NOT be enacted upon anyone. Equality
is equality PERIOD.
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For enforcement, it would be great to suspend any penalties for the first 6-12 months to allow everyone to get
comfortable with the change.
No plastic. Free paper bags. Period.
This is long overdue. It may be wise to offer community members a reusable bag as part of the kick-off of the
ordinance. Important information could be printed on the bag to help inform people of the change and why - make it
fun. The funding collected by the bag fee could be used to help pay for this.
My ONLY concerns are paper bag fees disproportionately affecting low income folks. It’s easy to think everyone
can/should just get reusable bags, but if you don’t have a stable residence, or a vehicle, or you have myriad other
added stressors—it’s just not always that simple.
Having said that, I’d support just about anything you want to do to get rid of plastics in our community. Get <insert
liberal city> crazy with it if you want. :)
I reuse my plastic grocery sacks for trash collection in my home which saves using other plastic trash bags.
Make sure that the new guidelines are made public - like ads on our city buses. Use a bit of humor in these ads - like
trees with many plastic bags tangled in the branches.
With so much meal deliveries, the amount of plastic being used for meals seems huge. Any way to control that or be
sure the materials used for meal deliveries are recyclable?
What is the problem with biodegradable plastics??? Where are they in all of this. That was a big deal many years
ago.Jim Gano 970-214-5847
I don't see any reason to delay implementation. Vitamin Cottage/Natural Grocers has not provided single-use bags at
checkout for like 10 years - even during the pandemic and it's not a problem. Every couple of months we get a free
bag from some organization or another in the mail or handed out at an event (Vitamin Cottage offered me one last
week) so acquiring reusable bags isn't really a burden.
We are not the first to do this and I'm sure we won't be the last, so why wait? Council should support this.
I strongly oppose this. I use reusable bags but believe in personal choice in this matter. Stop trying to control
people’s behavior. This was soundly rejected by voters just a few years ago. Stop trying to be Boulder and force this
on us. Sound research shows these programs do jot accomplish anything. If you pass this crap I will just shop in Weld
County or Loveland. You will lose a lot of tax dollars through this idiocy. It’s also completely tone deaf to do this on
the heels of covid. Many stores don’t allow the use of reusable bags right now, and so many people will be finally
impacted for a long time. Not everyone can afford reusable bags, or at least multiple bags to cover a grocery
shopping haul. I can’t tell you how angry it makes me that you are trying to resurrect this stupid crap.
This community has already overwhelming shown that we do not want this policy forced upon us or businesses. Use
educational alternatives and positive reinforcement for reusable bags. Stop using the guise of the city council’s care
for the environment to impose these draconian measures.
This is long overdue. I'm glad the city is considering this move.
We have already voted this down. I reuse my plastic bags. I should be allowed to use paper/plastic/cloth, etc for my
bag carrying needs. I don’t want the government in every aspect of my life or my community. This is Colorado not
California!
Frankly, this is an overreach on the part of City Council. There are better ways to implement policy than just banning
things and dropping more fees (taxes) on people if they don't comply. YES, plastics are a problem, but this is not the
way to initiate change.
Please start leading from the front, not by copying failed policies by other communities. Be creative, positive and
PRODUCTIVE in new solutions, please.
In a time when we’re dealing with COVID transmission, which we have no idea when it’ll be gone, banning safe
measures for grocery transport, with fees associated, seems untimely and reckless. While I support banning plastic,
the cost of paper bags are built into grocery prices. His fee only hurts low-income families. I saw Boulder do this, and
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it was ineffective from an empirical view. Rich people just pay extra, poor people struggle with carrying loose
groceries.
I feel the best would be to start recycling the bags. Or another option is to just stop using plastic and go to paper.
educate the public to bring bags, but some form of carrying merchandise is needed. We are attacking plastic bags,
but welcome Keurigs as a statis and convenience. How many of these machines are in your offices? Fast food pkg,
coffee cups, all fruit stickers, just merchandise pkging. I feel we are bullying stores that use a cheap form of bagging
to do it OUR way. I want plastics to stop too. But let's go after all plastic. Offering the recycling for it AND educating
the public
So far this seems to only include large grocers. I would prefer to see the plastic bag ban applied more broadly
including convenience stores and other retailers.
I'm in favor of banning plastic bags, but I think it is imperative that we first get covid-19 under control. Will that
happen before May 2022? -- Let's hope. The problem is that the current recommendation is not to use one's own
bags in grocery stores because of covid-19. It's safer for the employees to put groceries in never-used plastic bags
rather than handle bags brought by customers.
Not clear why there is a proposed fee on paper bags. Why not just ban plastic bags and not charge a fee for paper.
I hope this is just one of many resolutions that will help protect our environment.
COVID has been hard on everyone. Many are using curbside. even though eff would be 2022 - the timimg is very
poor to ask voters to support this issue - were are your heads.
Let’s get rid of single use plastic altogether & replace them with reusable & biodegradable alternatives!
We moved here from a city that is plastic bag free. The adjustment to using reusable bags was not difficult,
considering the positive impact it has on the environment long term.
Already re-using, repurposing, and recycling. This is unnecessary, expensive, and takes time away from much more
important things.
I think Fort Collins should spend their time more efficiently and stop thinking about plastic bags. There are bigger
issues that directly impact citizens of Fort Collins other than copying other cities in implementing a plastic bag ban.
There are many fallacies around the plastic bag usage. Especially, during a pandemic, it can be unsafe to continually
reuse bags. If a person chooses to continually wash and disinfect reusable bags this can have environmental impacts
too. Although I personally try to use fewer plastic bags, I don't think it's an issue that government should be out
creating and enforcing. Fort Collins could choose to incentivize businesses and/or individuals to use fewer plastic
bags rather than coming up with penalties. Often grocery shopping itself is difficult for older or disabled people,
adding a plastic bag ban complicates shopping for these people and everyone. I am often struck by communities,
overwrought with drug use, homeless people, and illegal aliens spend their precious resources implementing a
plastic bag ban as though that's the only rule that is able to be enforced.
Offer more education about the harmful effects of plastics in general. Additionally, before the bag program goes into
effect start giving a certain # of cloth bags for free or at cost to each Fort Collins household so they change their
behavior asap.
It would be better to encourage the use of paper bags over plastic bags as those can be recycled. Inserting
government into what is a consumer choice is particularly onerous. Reusable bags which are often sited as
alternatives have fundamental problems with being kept clean. Years ago I heard about an ordinance regarding
bagging bananas separately to avoid contamination. I assume that is still on the books. Are you going to also ban the
plastic bags for fruits and vegetables? What about all those plastic bags inside cereal boxes? Really should ban the
unnecessary box themselves. Much of the debris I find around the neighborhood comes from garbage trucks when
the front carrier is dumped over the cab and into the top of the truck behind the cab. Nearly every time that happens
something bounces off and into the street as the truck drives off. Certainly biodegradable plastic could be used for
most of the food packaging. Requiring that would be a better choice. Also large reusable mesh netting bags might
catch on.
Sooner implementation is better. Small grocers and farm stands should have financial support to make the switch,
allowing them to provide reusable bags free of charge at point of sale for a designated period of time in order to
reduce disproportionate impacts on the poor. Or else the city could distribute free reusable bags to citizens directly.
Both would be best.
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Why not allow both, but work with retailers to incentivize “good” behavior...i.e., make paper bags free, and charge
for the convenience of plastic bags. Provide a tax credit to retailers who demonstrate increased use of paper bags
over plastic.
I think the grocery chains Corporate HQ also need to be asked/told/get buy in from, to get rid of plastic bags
nationwide, like McDonalds got rid of styrofoam. I think this is something the National Council of Mayors should
advocate for.Locally, I believe cloth bags should be made available for a fee, as may grocers have, and paper bags be
available for free for those who feel they can’t afford the fre, but for a cost for those who feel the can pay. Maybe a
first cloth bag could be give free per person who requests. Money from the cloth bags coud be used for grover costs.
Nanny state, stay out of our lives.
I believe this policy is overdue and I am thrilled that the city is taking action. I think many people don’t realize how
little of their plastic is actually recycled. A public education campaign on the types of bags that can truly be recycled
(plastic film vs. frozen food vs. citrus bags) and the actual percentage of total bags recycled would be enlightening
and hopefully discourage wishful recycling and encourage more reduction activities.
I recently moved from California. They have banned plastic bags and there is a fee charged for paper bags. After an
initial adjustment period, this regimen worked very well and created little disruption to our lives. I strongly support
the total ban of plastic bags.
I lived in a city that did this about 7 years ago and it worked fine. Two problems I see: low income individuals paying
a fee for bags and pickup/delivery which is so popular now will face a issue of further costs associated with this
practice as paper bags will be mostly used.
Categorizing plastic bags as single-use is a broad generalization. I reuse every bag that I bring home from the grocery
store for a variety of purposes. At the very least I return the bags to the store for recycling. This whole effort seems
like an over-reach on what doesn't seem like a real problem. I can't remember the last time I saw plastic bags
littering our city streets other than 70 mph wind days when the neighborhood trash cans are blown over. Then, I just
go pick them up.
You tried this years ago, and we voters spanked you back to reality. It's disappointing you're trying again what you
already know we don't want.
BTW, I keep a reusable bag in my car and always use it for shopping. (It's nice that the straps don't cut into my
fingers like a plastic bag.) However, a plastic bag fits nicely onto the back of my bike seat, so I take one or two with
me when I'm shopping by bike. I reuse the same plastic bag(s) until they disintegrate, and then I recycle at the
supermarket.
Lately I haven't seen many plastic bags blowing around. What I do see littering the landscape are discarded masks. If
you want to make a difference, ban them instead.
Finally!! This has been an issue for decades in this country and putting it off just makes it worse. I would like this to
start MUCH SOONER!! I don't know why delaying this until a year and a half from now is considered a good thing. I
lived in England for almost a decade in the 1980s and they already had everything in place regarding this topic. If you
went to any store and didn't bring your own bag, you had to pay a lot of money for one of the store's bags. That was
almost fifty years ago! $ is the quickest way to get people to bring their own bags. It could start tomorrow.
An idea: A cloth bag exchange (to pass on bags to others)
An idea: Like the community has risen to making masks for our front-line workers and community members, maybe
we could have a bag making group of citizens /charities
Incentive for using reusable bags
I support banning plastic bags in grocers, but we should also do more to make reusable tote bags more accessible. I
recommend the city issue via mail or other means, at least one branded tote bag to each household in Fort Collins
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The fees collected from paper bags could be used in various additional ways-
1. Provide and distribute reusable grocery bags for low-income groups, thus reducing the long-term need on one-
time use bags at large.
2. Education about how to properly recycle plastic bags (in stores, Timberline facility, etc), at least as the ban is
phased in.
3. Education about paper bags as reusable. Groceries, gift wrap, arts, garden, shipping, etc.
I'D LIKE TO SEE THE POLICY IMPLEMENTED INITIALLY WITH WITH ONLY VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE. IF THAT FAILS,
CONSIDER IMPLEMENTING CIVIL PENALTIES.
Do not impose more laws and regulations to impose penalties on citizen. I would rather you find a way to incentivize
people to do the right thing to reduce plastic waste (incentive to recycle bags or bring your own - similar to how
Whole Foods gives you a discount when you bring your own bag).
Colorado should drive bigger initatives like the packaing that products are sold in. Example a cardboard box is easier
to recycle than the "hard plastic" that you have to cut off a product. Large stores should have recycling of product
packing material like large boxes TVs come in or the styrofom.
People will have to adjust their habits, but will get used to it.
I don’t think fees are the proper way to handle “single use plastics”. Many people actually use them more than once.
How about incentives for people that bring re-usable bags, cups, etc? Discounts for people that use re-usable
products. Penalties (fees) aren’t motivating, they’re irritating and angering.
It is so important to reduce our plastic use and waste. Thanks for putting detailed explanations on this site. I just
hope all this goes forward. Keep up the good work!
European countries have not had bags at major retailers for 40 years. Everyone just knows to bring their cloth
shopping bags or baskets to the store. Forgetting your own cloth bags would be about the same as forgetting to
wear pants. We need to get there and change may be hard for some, but they will adapt and it WILL be better for
our environment.
I think this is an embarrassingly biased survey.
I strongly oppose the City's hatred of plastic. I want us to be able to make our own decisions. Many of us use our
'single-use' plastic bags more than once. Picking up dog poop comes to mind as does lining garbage cans. The City
buys plastic dog poop bags, why are they exempt? If bags are banned then you are forcing me to buy plastic bags to
line my garbage cans. How does that reduce plastic trash? Many retailers have plastic bags recycling at their stores. If
you spent as much energy encouraging us to recycle at those stores your efforts would be commendable. You cold
even incentivize retailers to collect and recycle the bags. Stay out of our lives with all of these control measures and
let us make our own decisions.
If bags are appropriately given as supplements to a ban, should there be an additional effort to maintain reporting on
these items? This seems like extra regulatory paperwork for businesses to fill out. Maintain grocers who don’t keep
with the ordinance, but don’t make them fill out paperwork about it. Ban it, make sure everyone has access to cheap
or free reusable bags. Don’t be too hard on people who can’t afford it.
I am just trying to share my thoughts and do not want to be spending a lot of time with a survey.
My idea is: the addition of a parallel policy regarding the plastic containers that prescription drugs are dispensed in (
pill bottles ). The policy could be something like: A five-cent deposit per container which is waived when the
customer is returned to the pharmacy upon refills or at the end of the medication’s use. The returned containers
could be sanitized and reused (my preference ) or recycled.
Along with reducing the use of plastics and paper bags, I'd like to see reuse encouraged. Much "single use" plastic
can definitely be reused. I'd like to see emphasis and encouragement to reuse along with rules that allow reuse. Ex 1:
Most restaurants won't reuse to-go containers you bring in, nor take them back and clean them for reuse citing
health laws. Can we tweak something with this so they can? Ex2: Put a bin for used plastic shopping bags at the
entrance to the grocery store so people who forgot their bags could reuse them. This could reduce the fee impact on
low income individuals, too. Crested Butte seems to be doing a good job reducing plastic. Much of it seems to be
local businesses doing what they can without things having to be legislated. Not sure if they have financial incentives.
Can we learn from them?
I do not support a ban on plastic bags
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Why are you asking these questions as if this is a "done deal?"
The sooner the better
Would this extend to other non grocery retailers (like target)? It should. I would also like to see this kind of policy for
other single use plastics, like water bottles. Maybe a tax would be more appropriate there. I see this as a really
important endeavor. As an individual I can try my best to reduce plastic use but it is difficult when companies are
throwing plastic at you.
Reducing plastic waste is crucial to preserving our planet for future generations. A paper bag fee will deter
consumers and hopefully encourage reusable bags. However as a frequent shopper via curbside pick up, that fee
should be minimal (>10 cents per bag)
Would love to see the city of Fort Collins take meaningful action to reduce plastic pollution. This would also set a
great example for other communities to follow!
Please. Just don't. Allow people to make their own decisions on what bags to use. Reusable grocery bags are
frequently used by myself and others, please allow the flexibility of plastic bags.
It’s essential.
I don’t really get how you will know if someone is low income and it might be embarrassing to have the conversation
everytime someone goes to buy groceries. possibly implement this with some sort of card that lets employees know
the individual is exempt
Government needs to get much much smaller, not more restrictive!!!
We are one of the few nations on the planet that provide bags at all. We should rapidly adopt a bring-your-own-bag
policy and strongly embrace reusable bags.
Why not charge a fee for using plastic bags thereby discouraging the use. We need a more comprehensive plan for
diminishing plastic use: education program; working with other cities to mandate producers being responsible i.e.
taking back the the product.There are more kinds of plastic that pollutes and are destined for the landfill. This
proposed plan is feeble.
Currently there is no fee charged by grocers for either plastic or paper bags. While I hope we can return to using our
own reusable bags soon (with grocery staff loading them-not customers), I don’t feel customers should be charged
any additional fee to move to just paper bags. The cost should be absorbed by the grocers as now. Obviously the
stores can choose to pass along their cost through higher prices but that is their right, I understand. I’m a big fan of
recycling, including plastic grocery bags. Banning plastic bags is fine with me but not if the public has to pay more for
limiting our options.
I am all for banning plastic bags at the grocery store as it is easy to use a reusable bag however, do not ban plastic
bags for picking up dog poo. No plastic bag, no picking up poo!
I am glad the city decided to take on this issue. It is imperative to take action on the use of single use plastics, as their
negative impact on the environment, the health of our soil, our water and our own bodies is now well-documented.
The sooner we take action, the better.
Why would banning plastic bags create a fee for paper bags? I can get either now for free so taking away the one
option shouldn’t mandate a charge for what we have left.
I lived in Carbondale Colorado in 2010 and they had a plastic bag ban. That was 11 years ago. Its time Fort Collins
made a plastic ban bag happen. People will adjust and become used to it in a year or so. 🏞🏞
not necessary or needed. Waste of taxpayer money
Please do not try to just dodge responsibility for this necessary action and toss this decision to the voters on the
ballot. Voters so often think all "bans" are bad regardless of the purpose of the ban. Do what is right and make the
change yourself and get us going in the right direction ASAP. Fort Collins is a leader in municipal environmental
protection so lets keep it that way.
Maybe have some of that money go to buying reusable bags for low income families. So they can also participate and
maybe not feel left out.
you ban plastic bags and then force us to buy plastic bags off the shelf for our needs re: animal waste and garbage.
People are hurting in this economy and you want to force more charges from the grocery stores in regards to paper
bags. Where is the common sense in any of this. Place instead bins for people to recycle the bags if they do not
want to save or use them. There are more important things to focus on. Next it will be plastic straws, right? and
what in the world does my sexual orientation have to do with this survey?
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Lets think more boldly than a plastic bag ban. Somewhere; everywhere, needs to sell consumer products on the
milkman model. The milkman would drop off bottles which would be assigned a deposit or core value incentivizing
their return to a production facility to be sterilized and refilled. Requiring the replacement of plastic bottles and
consumer containers with reusable ( I envision aluminum with some sort of tamper indication). Making the
containers square could allow for more efficient shipping which would make up for the increased weight of
aluminum packaging compared to plastic bottles. This could be an initiative where the city of Fort Collins could
partner with the local breweries to agree to use one standard reusable container. The containers could be collected
by the local curbside recycling contractors (I do not think there is municipal collection in Fort Collins) and then sorted
and delivered to a municipal (or public-private: paid for by deposits on the containers) facility for sanitization before
returning to the brewery for refilling.
The same model could apply to reusable bags where customers borrow bags from the store, charged a deposit,
incentivizing their return and paying for their sanitization. Bottles, bags, boxes, apply the model to each. Also a
complete styrofoam ban would be a positive step.
None.
I’d love to know the feasibility and cost of the enforcement/reporting elements of the policy before it’s passed.
Banning single-use plastic bags is a good idea. The City retaining part of the fee money to support cleanup of plastic
waste seems counter intuitive. If we ban plastic bags, there will be less waste to clean up, and therefor costs should
go down. I think the plan being envisioned is too expensive & some of the projected costs are not reasonable.
I lived in Austin when they implemented their plastic bag ban, I thought it was a great move. The only problem I saw
was that many grocers began offering "reusable plastic bags" for a small fee. It seemed like everyone just paid the
fee and tons of people ended up with much more environmentally damaging thick plastic bags that would end up as
litter anyway.
Thank you I'm hoping this passes. I pick up trash along the road and see so many bags and pieces of bags. Would be
a big step in the right direction.
It's been a long time coming and is overdue!
This is ridiculous. Please stop trying to turn Colorado into California. How about actually hiring people to clean up
the streets?
Rather than taxing or fining, provide incentives for businesses to move away from plastic. Also you are targeting a
single industry which is not fair. Grocers to home improvement to restaurant carry out should be held to the same
standards to reduce plastic waste. Targeting shopping bags is only one small facet of plastic packaging waste
generated by products. I'd be more likely to support a plastics fee implemented by the stores if it was clearly
identified where the money was going. You are putting a tax/fine/fee cart ahead of a horse, it's a burden with no
clear plan of where the money will go with questions posed to me about committing additional financial resources to
studying its effectiveness once passed. If FC is modeling this after other municipalities that have enacted similar
proposals, there are metrics, case studies, and comparison models to be drawn on effectiveness and outcomes. A
push toward measurable biodegradable materials in bagging both plastic and paper should be embraced and
facilitated. Compostable and biodegradable materials cost more, help businesses rise to that standard rather than
penalizing them for maintaining cheaper margins. You do not want goods to inflate inside the city due to a tax/fee to
solve a problem. You're replacing one problem with another. Furthermore, carefully weigh all options, FC's business
initiatives have caused it to lose significant business retail income in recent years allowing Loveland, Johnstown,
Windsor, and Timnath to move aggressively in commercial development. Complicating businesses inside FC could
ultimately cause a movement of store. Look at how many grocery stores were built inside Fort Collins 30-40 years
ago and look at how many have left those buildings. True some have moved an built new structures but grocers have
demonstrated the ability and propensity to move properties. Closing a store on the Harmony corridor to move inside
Timnath or Windsor limits a mile or two down the road is a very real possibility. I agree with decreasing plastic waste.
But I do not agree that the means to achieve that is by targeting one industry and fining/taxing with no clear plan in
place of effectiveness or clear intentions of what the collected money will be used for.
The grocers and other business need to be encouraged to change the type of bags, provide a credit for returning
bags. We do not need another law that costs more then the solution. Demand that the grocers participate in
improving the situation. If our government insists on another law, they need to be required to remove a law. Our
society is being overwhelmed with regulations.
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encourage more grocery stores to pay customers 5 cents for every of their own bags they bring to the store, as some
stores already do
This is long overdue.
Reusable bags are not sanitary(banned at the beginning of the pandemic), who knows where they have been
between trips to the store. Studies have shown that alternatives to plastic bags are not environmental friendly if one
considers the manufacturing of reusable bags. In my opinion single use plastic(bags,bottles etc) proper disposal is a
consumer responsibility. I noted studies that have shown one would need to use a cloth bag in excess of 100 times
before it was better for the climate. Another study indicated that a heavier multipuse plastic/polyester bags must be
used 50 times but most are used less than 10 times. I repurpose my grocery bags for small trash containers etc
otherwise I would need to purchase trash bags which are require more plastic as well as extra packaging. I attened a
neighborhood meeting regarding this subject sometime in the past. I still believe this propoposal is 'cherry picking' a
minimal part of the plastic waste issue considering that plastic water bottles etc produce much more waste. I suggest
that perhaps more consumer education could help the situation.
Reducing plastic waste should be a global priority! I agree with all of the above. While I understand that this could
impact low-income groups, I think this could be ameliorated by offering free reusable bags (cost offset by paper bag
fee) to such groups. However, I do not think that protecting the environment is a responsibility of only the privileged
and therefore do not agree that low-income households should be exempt from this fee as it promotes continued
waste.
PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED RESPONSES:
Open Ended Question: What other thoughts do you have on the proposed policy?
Responses received before 12.31.2020 and included in previous memos / materials sent to Council.
MANY other necessary and important public policies regarding the environment where City could have
reasoned and useful work
My big concern is with the implementation timeline given COVID 19
This is one of the dummest ideas ever. I can not believe you are spending time on this with other more
important things going on. You need to focus on small businesses, getting them up and running again.
This thing roles around every couple of years and it is still stupid.
Wrong priority, wrong time. Small and large businesses are struggling to survive. Try education and
voluntary compliance first. There maybe a hygienic issue with reusable bags during COVID.
Health, housing, economy, jobs, food, school should be our priorities now!
I am thrilled to see this being addressed! I am also happy to see that the effect on lower-income
households is being taken into consideration. Thank you! Would also love to see city-wide composting as
an option in the future. It would be great if we could address other single-use plastics such as straws, drink
cups, etc as well. The Exchange (in Old Town) requires plastic cups to be used if drinking in the communal
area - I see a lot of waste in this business cluster in particular (I love the businesses, but can't help but be
bothered by the amount of waste).
I know it's good for the environment but I have a problem being forced to supply my own bag at all times.
My second issue relates to all the other stores that use plastic bags (big box stores, carry-out restaurants).
Seems the policy does not treat all businesses equally.
Please ban all single use plastics ASAP!
A marketing effort to achieving voluntary adoption by consumers is essential. Otherwise, it will become a
political issue. The same approach that was taken re: littering 50 years ago should be used to raise public
awareness and buy-in.
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Putting a fee on the use of paper bags would only affect those of us who don't have a lot of money.
Absolutely unacceptable.
It is time for single use plastics and for plastic bags to be banned in our city!
It should be a beginning to banning all single use plastics in Fort Collins and in Colorado.
Will this actually happen this time around??? Please keep this moving forward!
Don’t understand why the fee for paper? Just to encourage reusable bags? I didn’t like the paper fee last
time the plastic ban was proposed
Require grocery stores to use our reusable bags. Right now, Trader Joe’s will bag with my reusable bags
but Safeway will not. At Safeway, I am required to bag my own groceries if I want to use reusable bags. I
have no objection to bagging my own groceries but when you are purchasing an entire cart full of groceries
it really slows the process down since I can’t start bagging until I have unloaded my cart.
I fucking hate plastic sooo much get rid of it!!!
Support banning plastic bags. Policy should apply equally to all Fort Collins residents. Not clear on the
paper bag focus at this time. This policy should not increase city staff.
Not understanding why paper bag fee be used for plastic mitigation costs
Do ban plastics, but keep paper as a free alternative.
This all sounds great and I am so happy to see this coming onto the ballot. I wish it could become effective
sooner than 2022, and I also wish that we could be recycling more plastics here in Fort Collins.
In addition to paper bags, I'm in favor of banning single-use straws and take-out utensils. Many times, I've
asked restaurants not to include single-use utensils, as I'm taking the food home anyway, and they still do.
Reducing grocery bags is a great place to start reducing plastics. Thanks! Schools need to be another
focus. PSD currently supplies students with plastic bottles of Nestle water at lunch, with few options in the
cafeteria and school to refill a cup or water bottle (some schools have PTO or school funded bottle filling
stations.) With about 2,000 students in PSD, if only half get bottled water, by the end of the school year
that’s 180,000 plastic water bottles! Can we get kids to be the change by teaching them how to reduce
waste at their schools?
no fee just ban the bags and do all the other stuff. We shouldn't have to pay for the irresponsibility of out of
state corporations
I believe that reporting is important to see if the policies are working, however believe that such reporting
should be done at a minimum cost to ensure that the revenue earned from any plastics/paper charges are
not primarily supporting administration costs.
It is easy to get into the habit of using reusable bags, I’d encourage that also. I’ve done this for over 30
years. If we got into the habit of wearing masks, then the reusable bags is very doable. I’ve used same
bags for several years before they wear out.
Please take action ASAP on not just single use plastics but those that cannot be recycled.
There is no reason to delay implementation. The notion that cloth bags are "dirty" is bogus. Stores that
have started banning or restricting us from bringing our own bags are misguided at best. This is a policy
that should have been implemented 10 years ago, instead you caved in to the tinfoil hat wearing, sharpie
chart waving "investigative journalist" (you know who) and her ilk.
Length of residence? Really? Is this how the city intends to fashion policy? I've been here nearly 40 years
(since I came to CSU for my bachelor's degree), but that is not relevant any more than the "Fort Collins
native" that people seem to find important.
How many times have the public rejected this and you want to keep trying to shove this down our throats.
I'm tired of the government wanting to control every portion of our lives.
Implementing sooner than May 2022, this policy is long overdue.
I I do not understand how getting rid of plastic bags will impact low income and other groups
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The city tries to cram this ordinance or similar ones down the throats of citizens every few years. Trying to
slip it by during a pandemic is reprehensible. Your online polls will be skewed because those who are most
interested (i.e. the same folks who try to get this on the agenda as often as possible), will participate far
more than those who would typically not be aware of the proposal until the learned about it at real-word
events. Is their signage regarding this encouraging input posted AT the grocery stores? You need to reach
those who are impacted WHERE they are impacted.
We use our plastic bags for trash and cat litter, instead of buying over sized plastic trash can bags. There is
only the 2 of us and we usually only have 1-2 grocery bags of trash in our trash container for disposal. Most
times it is only 1. We recycle as much as possible, so our trash has always been a small amount. I use
reusable grocery bags most of the time and only use plastic bags when we are running low. I think banning
or charging for bags is ridiculous, especially considering the cost of them were factored into the cost of
groceries years ago! I know some people are reckless about the bags, but not all should be penalized for a
few.
Let’s do this!
We did this in Austin while I lived there and it was wonderful...once we got used to it. Plastic bags are a
terrible burden for our planet and dangerous to animals.
Who says plastic and paper bags are SINGLE USE??? You are making assumptions. I save both types of
bags and use them for many other purposes. I also recycle the excess bags (both plastic and paper). Do
your research. See what people do. The city is just looking for a way to add another revenue-generating
TAX
Be more innovative, not punishing
I prefer to use self checkout at large grocery stores. Trying to use a reusable bag always creates a problem
at self checkout. Is there a way Council can get local grocery stores to fix that?
A TAX, not a fee
Reuseable bags are expensive for some. Grocery stores are not the only big users. Think about
department stores, also. Will biodegradable bags be available as legal, free substitutes? What are the
model cities that have adopted this policy doing, how has it worked, and can these successful programs be
used in an education campaign before the vote?
I think banning plastic bags is a wonderful idea, but I think we need to be extremely considerate of the
burden that fees on paper bags will have on Fort Collins families; I think that, first, the fee should only go
towards helping Fort Collins take care of our environment. Second, I'm not sure how we could make sure
this policy does not harm low income families. I think community outreach is definitely the first step, so
thank you!
Banning single use bags during a pandemic is a horrible idea. The bags shoppers bring with them have
been exposed to viruses, dirt and bacteria from the shopper's home/garage floor and automobile. This will
lead to the spread and transmission of disease. Let's find a sensible way to eliminate plastic waste
including elimination of the sale of single-serving bottled water, requiring refills to be sold for products sold
in plastic containers, and waxed paper food containers to replace plastic.
Let's not make the "cure" worse than the problem!
Hello,
Question #1 was hard for me to answer b/c the two items, while linked in the proposed ordinance, have
different impacts, source materials, cost -- both monetary and societal. It would have been better if Q#1
would have been phrased as such:
QUESTION #1
Overall Policy: How strongly do you support the following?
a. Plastic bag ban, beginning in May 2022
b. Paper bag fee at large grocers, beginning in May 2022
You will notice I selected Somewhat Support for Q#1 and Strongly Support for Q#2. I support fee on paper
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but don't necessarily want it tied to the plastic bag ban. I think there needs to be two separate ordinances.
After all, paper bags are HIGHLY recyclable, cause limited local pollution and impacts on our inland land
and water environments. If they "escape," they break down quickly. When did you last see a paper bag
blowing along down College Ave. or caught in the branches of a tree, or smothering a goose? I have seen
all three for plastic bags (a curse on the land!) and none for paper. Finally, paper bags can be made from
0% to 100% recycled -- post-consumer recycled or pre-consumer recycled. They also are 100% recyclable.
And if the virgin material is sources from FSC or equiv. forests, have limited ecological impacts.
HOW ABOUT THIS?: Instead of a fee on paper bags, require ALL grocery retailers -- not just large ones:
anyway how do you objectively define large? -- to use 100% recycled paper bags with a *minimum* of 50%
post-consumer recycled. If they do this, then there is no fee. Saves the retailer the hassle of collecting the
fee and the consumer of paying it.
The City of Fort Collins is -- by its own definition -- a sophisticated, data-driven organization. As such you
should not use survey questions and methods that "steer" public opinion. In politics, these are called "push"
surveys; you push the answer you want. Please do not use these, as you did in Q#1 That is devious and
not fair. You owe the engaged (and not so engaged!) citizens more than high school level polling. You CAN
do better; so start doing surveys that way -- or engage the services of a professional polling organization.
FINALLY: Thank you for you work and the survey. If you want to contact me, my name is Philip Friedman
970 227-6526 or phifri@frii.com. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss more.
FINALLY, FINALLY: Where you say: "All fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required." Well, NO fields are
marked. Whoops!
Regards,
Phil
The middle of a pandemic is a disastrous time to consider this item. ALL council who approved it should be
voted out and all staff who support it should be removed.
Thank you! Plastic pollution is a threat to all life on earth. Let’s be on the right side of history.
How much is the paper bag fee?
Surely the City has more pressing issues than paper and/or plastic. Banning plastic will not make this a
better place to live. We have restaurants struggling to stay open, high unemployment due to COVID
restrictions, a constant stream of homeless people coming to our fair city to take advantage of the generous
resources offered, a drop in revenues in the city coffers due to COVID, etc. People can choose paper,
plastic or BYOB (bring your own bag). We can make good choices in this area. By and large, I see the
populace of Fort Collins as being able to make bag choices without City intervention. The City needs to
deal with issues each citizen cannot deal with on their own efforts. Hiring auditors to ensure compliance
and hiring people to crunch numbers for reporting on performance measures will just add more to the City
payroll. Do we really need that?
I strongly support some action on single use plastics. We have to take action. I would also support a fee for
plastic bags instead of a ban or a fee for a year before a ban.
We desperately need places where people can take their old plastic bags for reuse or recycling.
Also, I'd like to see a LOT(!) more documentation showing the environmental impact of all of the
alternatives being considered. So far this doesn't appear to be well thought out.
I'd like to see *data* from other communities on policies they've implemented and effects. I am concerned
about impacts on people with lower incomes. I've also heard a news report, but not looked into myself, that
cloth bags have a much higher lifecycle footprint than disposable plastic bags because cloth is resource-
intensive to produce. So I hope our policies will be informed by the best data available. I'd also like to see
more done about other single-use plastics - we've been using NoCo Nosh to support local restaurants
during COVID, and getting some restaurants to NOT include plastic utensils, condiment packages, etc. has
been impossible.
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We traveled in France and there are no plastic bags there. Even the outdoor markets offered cloth bags.
It’s not hard. I also want leaky meat packages with styrofoam bottoms eliminated so I don’t need to ask for
plastic bags. And we need to get rid of styrofoam too.
Forget all of it. Leave us alone. We can make our own decisions on climate, health and diet.
Fort Collins trails most so called progressive cities in taking this action. City council has failed the citizens
by not taking this action previously. At least put it to a vote of the people rather than using poorly sourced
data or listening to loud voices who show up at random meetings. We can do better.
I don’t think both a ban and a fee will pass. I submit that only a plastic ban should be sought at this time.
Otherwise plastic will continue to be a problem. Unless the ban and fee timing is a staggered one. But that
would have to be made clear in the ballot measure.
Thank you!
I reuse plastic grocery bags for trash disposal especially cat litter and adult diapers. I am currently
purchasing biodegradable ones on Amazon. They are not that expensive. I would much rather require
stores to use these kind of bags than paper...also, I have my groceries delivered and paper bags ALWAYS
rip and spill the contents. If stores have to charge a minimal fee for the small difference in cost between
their regular bags and biodegradable ones, so be it, but that needs to be checked so they don't take
advantage. It would be easy enough for them to waive the fee for those on food stamps.
Why 2022? This is doable in 2021. It's been discussed enough already. Just do it!
I am all for banning plastic bags but not sure if they should charge for paper bags. Presently we don't pay
for the plastic bags. But do think it's a good idea if there is a need to pay for the paper bag that some of the
money goes to a good use.
I reuse my grocery store plastic bags: dog waste; trash can liners; laundry; packing, etc. If fees are
charged, I'll be using single use bags that I pay for (and which will only be used once). If this is
implemented, grocery stores should provide free bags (versus charging $1 or more to purchase.....)
Over and over again the majority of citizens have said we do not want plastic bag bans nor fees for paper
bags. Why do this now during the middle of Covid if you must?
Please stop adding to governmental regulations and fees. There are far more important things to think
about than this silly issue. You are not there to make these kinds of decisions for citizens.
It’s RIDICULOUS! Move on to something important like getting businesses FULLY reopened! Wake up!!
I re-use those plastic bags whenever possible- but the are making them so thin that they often tear after
only one use. If anything, they should make them like they used to.
DON’T DO IT!!!!
I use these bags as trash bags so I don’t have to buy trash bags, & recycle defective bags at the grocery
store so no chance of them becoming airborne!!!!!!!!
I hate that I haven't been able to use my reusable bags during the pandemic. Looking forward to not having
to get a bag again. Would like to ultimately see all single use plastics banned
The sooner the better.
Sorry folks. Not only has this been tried before, but it strikes me as a ideologically determined (NOT
environmentally necessary) windmill tilt. I would begin the criticism by pointing out that no data is being
(nor has been, to the best of my knowledge) presented on how big of a problem plastic bags actually
currently pose. Heavy on assertions, light on real data, even anecdotal. Please use our resources,
including taxes, better than this.
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Diversion of wastes should not be the burden of individuals or their communities. It is a falsehood that most
of the pollution and waste can be attributed to individual behavior, but rather is a consequence of
multimillion dollar corporations being exempt from having to invest in reusable materials at their own
expense. The arguments against straws and plastic bags are rooted in ableist and classist ideology. Low
income people are expected to subsidize the reckless and lazy behavior of industries that package items in
plastics and other nonbiodegradable materials. Manufacturers, grocers and retailers should be responsible
for making this transition, not consumers. This needs to be done on an industry level, not a local or state
level, and not at the cost burden of the populace.
People can bring their own bags or ask for paper bags or reuse the plastic bags for diapers, cat litter or dog
poop. I believe our city is comprised of smart people who are interested in saving the planet without the
government telling us how to do that.
Our family has lived in another community where this was already in place in Oregon. It really helped us
make new habits of bringing our own bags and I ended up liking it more (you can fit so many more
groceries in reusable bags and it feels good to not waste and throw away so many plastic bags). I firmly
believe people will not make this change unless it is required of them. I know my family probably wouldn’t
have made the change on our own-and now I’ll never go back
The policy is not necessary, will hurt businesses and will create more government bureaucracy and
wasteful spending on regulation and enforcement. Rather, encourage continued reuse of plastic bags
which is already widespread. Banning plastic bags at stores will just create a market for buying of bulk
plastic bags for personal use (i.e. for trash bags in cars, small bins in bathrooms, picking up dog poop,
fillings from cat litter box, diapers, etc.)
We have covered this topic multiple times and a petition campaign. Don’t ignore that.
Please re-double efforts to limit other plastics like straws, take out packaging moving towards cardboard or
foil. Education regarding filling bags at grocery stores which has been studied and proven to be helpful.
I would support providing reusable bags to low-income people rather than exempting them from the policy.
My main concern with taxing paper bags is the impact on low income folks so I appreciate the opportunity
for them to qualify for free bags. I don't want this to impact accessibility to food for anyone. Love the policy
otherwise!
I strongly support the ban on plastic bags. However, I worry about the impact of a fee for paper bags for low
income individuals.
This fall both King Soopers and Safeway quit making paper bags available at any price. I wonder if this is
an early attempt to thwart this effort to ban plastics. Steamboat Springs has passed a similar ordinance.
We could learn from their experience. Side note: Gallegos Sanitation this year made it mandatory to bag
garbage in plastic bags within their wheeled garbage containers. For those of us who routinely collect
garbage within the house in brown grocery bags, this means purchasing a non-degradable single use
plastic bag just to get the garbage from the house to the curb.
The makers of trash bags (Glad, Hefty, etc.) are hoping that plastic bags get eliminated everywhere so they
can sell more bags! I use grocery bags in my small trash cans (bedrooms, bathrooms). And I use bags
from other retail places in my slightly larger trash cans. I have to buy bags for my kitchen trash can
because of its 13-gallon size, but I buy no others. A plastic bag does not leave my house until it contains
trash!
Plastic and paper will continue to be needed and used. This ban and the laws and enforcement needed
will only put more hardship on businesses and consumer alike. So called "single use" plastic bags are
used put to good use in many ways such as lining trash bags. Banning them will simply mean people will
have to buy plastic liners. How will that solve the problem? Enforcing laws costs money and puts more
strain on business to comply with yet another measure to control.
This is a good start but the city could choose to go further by actually increasing recycling requirements on
waste management companies.
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I find it acceptable to ban plastic bags.
I DO NOT support a fee on paper bags.
Paper bags are recyclable just as other paper products are. Reusable bags from home have been found to
carry germs if not properly cleaned. How many of these bags should I be required to bring to a store if I am
doing my weekly shopping? Why should I be forced to pay a fee for a paper bag if it is a last minute
decision to shop at a grocery store and I do not have my own grocery bag?.
If a fee for paper bags is included in the proposed ordnance, I'll have to vote against its passage.
Offering free reusable bags at grocery stores for low income households instead of plastic bags.
While I support the idea of trying to improve our sustainability and reduce plastic usage, I strongly oppose
this idea. Our household uses canvas bags whenever we go grocery shopping but there are valid uses for
plastic and paper bags. When we have meat scraps from dinner we can tie them off in a plastic bag
without having to smell up the whole house or waste an entire kitchen bag (which is more plastic). My wife
uses paper bags as part of her baking. There are dozens of other ways we reuse these bags. This
measure is significant overreach and we are 100% opposed to the effort.
I would love to see data resulting from this made public so that it can be a beacon for other communities to
follow suit.
Give away cotton canvas bags with the city's or the shop's logo, made in the U.S.; ask shops to give refund
to shoppers who bring their own bags or boxes to carry away the shopping.
In my opinion, we are way past the time of needing to get this started. We are so far behind, and we've
already done so much damage to the environment, to the detriment of the animals who inhabit the planet
with us. And, even though Fort Collins has bright people who generally seem like they want to try to help
the environment, when it comes to actually doing it, they're going to have to step up.
I go into King Soopers here in town (North College and College/Harmony), and almost no one has reusable
bags (even pre-COVID). But it's really very easy to bring reusable bags! If you forget them in your car, you
go back to your car and get them. Or, put them on the front seat and set your purse on top of them when
you get in the car. It takes a little bit of effort and retraining yourself, but it's not that hard. After you wash
your bags, you put them by the front door, and it's pretty much a no-brainer that you grab your bags when
you go out to the car.
The only thing you might need a plastic bag for is really soggy lettuce or a leaky meat package, certainly
not when you're carrying your groceries out to the car. People have gotten so used to getting plastic bags
without thinking -- so, they're going to have to actually stop and think and get "unused" to it.
People may whine at first, but we've got to get started on this!
There definitely is a concern about low-income households and unhoused folks, who may be using the
plastic bags for other things, such as for bagging trash or keeping belongings dry if they're out in the rain.
Or they might not have a way to reliably wash reusable bags. How to do this without singling out low-
income people at the cash register might be a challenge. Has anyone asked folks at the Murphy Center
and others how this might work?
In addition to "policing" businesses to make sure that they comply (because, as we've seen with masks
during the pandemic, even when it's for a greater good, some businesses may not comply), maybe there's
a way to make this a positive thing as well? A contest or a way to get positive press if they do well, or
something? And maybe random people who bring reusable bags could win a percentage off of their
groceries or something?
I guess a place to start is at grocery stores, but really, Target or Walgreens or any other store in town
should also help out with this. People could also bring a reusable bag when they buy a pair of pants or buy
a widget at the hardware store.
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I disagree strongly with charging for paper bags and as it negatively affects the less privileged.
With pick up orders for groceries during the pandemic not allowing personal reusable bags it seems like the
timing of this initiative to ban plastic bags is off. How will pick up orders for groceries be able to be in
compliance with the ban on plastic bags and the policy to charge for paper bags be handled? Are pick up
orders from restaurants exempt? While I have been supportive of previous attempts to ban single use
plastic bags, the timing of this initiative is wrong and should be postponed until after the pandemic is under
control.
I think that charging a fee for the use of plastic bags would be at least as efficacious, if not more so, as an
ourright ban.
We should encourage the use of biodegradable bags/take out containers.
Banning plastic bags provided by grocery stores will force people who used them to line trash baskets to
purchase suitable plastic bags from other stores.
I agree that some of these bags end up in fences, etc. but what fraction of the total number of bags does
this represent? If it's very small, as I suspect, it seems extreme to ban all of these bags because few of
them end up in undesirable places. What fraction of these bags are recycled? What fraction are used for
other purposes such as holding trash or storage?
Single use plastic bags are used to pick up dog poop. Also, government is to big and is no longer
manageable. Taxation and "Fees" are a direct burden on taxpayers not a benefit.
We are in the midst of a pandemic that disproportionately affects the poor and working-class. It is
particularly cruel to pass a bag fee now. Even though it wouldn’t go into effect until 2022, the impact of the
pandemic will still be felt then.
City Council researched but chose not to pursue a number of other possibilities that do not place the
burden on working-class residents. These include:
○ Funding programs to incentivize consumers to bring their own reusable bags to retail outlets
○ “opt-in” versus “opt-out” on single-use plastic utensils for restaurant take-out and delivery
○ Ending the use of single-use plastic utensils at dine-in restaurants
○ Enacting a business-focused single-use plastics ban similar to Palo Alto’s Disposable Foodware
Reduction Program
○ Funding programs to incentivize businesses using compostable packaging and foodware
○ Couching the language of plastic restrictions in terms of a comprehensive community effort rather than a
hard ban on end consumers that could be seen as government overreach and/or poor-shaming
Reusable bags need to be introduced first, at all retailers. If income is an issue, make these free for low-
income individuals rather than make them continually prove poverty to waive the bag fee.
I don't know how you could realistically reduce fee for low income people, but I agree that is a good idea.
The best thing to do is look into successful programs in other cities so that we don't have to go backwards if
this goes through. The city should also consider strongly supporting bulk products at some point soon, that
is where we can make a huge difference. Part of the education needs to be that this would be one small
action, because people are the irony in having 10 plastic produce bags in their paper bag. Bulk products
are where we can make a huge difference.
I like the idea of offering free reusable bags to low income families and/or an exemption of fees all together.
I lived in Boulder when this was implemented. While i sort of groaned about it at first it absolutely reduced
my usage of plastic bags and changed some of my wasteful habits. I began to remember my reusable
bags more often. I quit using plastic bags as liners in my small trash cans.
One negative was i ended up with too many paper bags which I accumulated because there were times I
still forgot my reusable bags.
Thanks for considering this important step forward for our city and earth!
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Although I support the goal of reducing plastics to protect the environment, I do not support the policy
method being proposed. This policy is of concern especially given the curbside pick-up of groceries that
has become even more popular and necessary during COVID. I expect this trend to continue even after
COVID. How will it work for those that use these curbside services? There must be an exception or
alternative for making this service feasible. I suggest more effort be put into educating the public about
better reuse of the plastic bags or recycling of the bags rather than a complete ban. Also, an incentive
program, similar to what Sprouts has of a $0.05 discount for using reusable bags, might be a better option
than a complete ban.
Beyond eliminating plastic grocery bags, I would love to see progress made on reducing plastic bags used
for food (ex. bags of apples) and styrofoam by restaurants.
This is has already been struck down by the voters. The people have spoken.
Stay out of my shopping experience and stop adding more taxes called fees. I don’t see plastic bags all
over causing a problem. Why should I be penalized because I misjudged how much I am buying at the
grocery store at any given time. What happens to all the reusable bags that aren’t going to hold up in the
long run. They are going to clog up land fills. I already see many people using reusable bags without the
penalty of fees/taxes.
I would also support policies charging an extra tax on other single-use plastics such as water bottles. On a
larger scale, I would also support taxes or fees on plastic packaging by manufacturers. This includes
shipping material, packaging materials, serving materials, etc.
As far as the specific proposed city policy, I empathize little with exceptions for low-income households.
The fees are so minimal and there are very affordable options for reusable options. I would be more
supportive of programs providing free re-usable products (e.g. grocery bags) for a limited period to help
support low income compliance with the program.
I am less supportive of fees on paper bags and products. These products are renewable and I consider a
much better alternative to single-use plastics. I hate seeing paper vilified in the same policies as single-use
plastics.
How about letting retailers lead the way without an ordinance, like rewarding people who bring their own
bag with a discount on their purchase. The retailer saves the cost of the bag and passes a reward to the
eco-conscious customer.
I love the plastic ban but do not agree with a fee for paper.
Sounds good
We are a bit behind on this because of caving to the plastic bag zealots back in 2014. Put the onus on the
people/industries that are making money off this insidious convenience. If you're really concerned about
the impact on low-income and underrepresented groups maybe we shouldn't have spent $11.5 million on a
whitewater park.
Do it now!
Sustainability policies should not increase financial burden of low-income households.
I'm not sure I agree with a city imposed fee for paper bags. I think a better approach would be to impose a
fee for plastic bags and use the money from that to encourage use of re-usable bags. The city could even
use some of that money to commission local artists to create re-usable bag designs specific to Fort Collins
- promote the city, encourage recycling, promote natural areas etc. If these bags were cool and available at
the checkout for cheap, people would use them. I don't think a fee for paper bags is useful, and forcing
grocers to calculate and report additional information - impact on low-income etc - does not encourage
them to support the greater goal of reducing the use of plastic bags. Paper bags, while not the optimal use
of resources, are better than plastic, and their continued availability provides a reasonable option for those
of low-income or those who just want to resist rules from the city. Address that problem later.
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Fast food and other restaurants should ask if patrons need plastic utensils or straws rather than include
them in the order. Create a PSA showing people with a set of real utensils in their car, back pack or lunch
bag.
I think that there should be a fee for plastic bags! People respond better with a positive outcome to their
behavioral change. Save money by bringing your own bags. I realize that grocers give out most bags, but I
think an ordinance should affect all stores equally. Do big box stores count as grocers if they have “some”
food available? Is there an incentive to develop and use a bag that biodegrades/breaks down after use
(after exposed to sun or water)? I am tired of chasing bags and fishing them out of trees. I’d love for them
to go away, but others think they can’t live without them.
I don't believe the need for plastic/paper bags is income dependent. Reusable bags are inexpensive, and
could be subsidized for low income users.
Definitely need to ban plastic bag use. During the pandemic, use of plastic increased greatly, as
cashiers/baggers couldn't touch folks' bags. I've continued to bring my own bags and sack my own
groceries, and I was one of few who did so (at King Soopers...folks are better about using their own bags at
Sprouts). Plastic, especially single-use is so harmful to the environment; let's ban it and get people to step
us/re-use...it's not that hard.
Long overdue; please do not let large grocers or lobbyists stall this much needed step to get single-use
plastic bags out of stores!
Why have a fee on paper bags? They're recyclable and sustainable from trees grown for the purpose. We
had paper long before plastic bags. "Retraining," Really, on how to use a paper bag?! Many stores
already provide reusable bags/boxes.
Ban plastic, not paper bags and promote use of reusable bags.
Great that we're finally rolling with this--great start!
Here here!! Thank you for initiating this!!!!!!! Re: low-income households and exemptions, could there be a
different system, like providing them reusable bags, if the purchase of a reusable bag is limiting for them.
Plastic bags need to be out of circulation completely, granting an exemption and allowing low-income
households to use them doesn't make sense.
Grocers refuse to touch customers' multiuse bags because of covid. People must pack their own bags.
This is not the time to ban plastic and paper bags.
Wrong time for this - business is just trying to survive. And the suggestions above - will cost more than the
fee can generate. This is a loosing option. Let's figure out a way to recycle these bags - they are a
valuable commodity.
I do not support the fee on paper bags without exempting low-income customers.
Plastic bags should not be banned, just charge a fee. Some are used for trash bags, if you ban plastic bags
then people will compensate by purchasing more trash bags. Sometimes one purchases something that
could leak on one's backpack so plastic bags have some utility. Granted, they are currently overly used, but
a fee would address this.
Paper bag fee should be low - around 5 cents per bag or less. I have equity concerns with respect to the
plastic bag ban/paper bag fee.
Thank you for considering this policy.
Plastic bags are bad, but styrofoam containers concern me more.
I fully support reducing plastic waste, however the financial burden of the transition away from plastic
should not be shouldered by consumers/ working class people.
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It's about time.....should have been doing this 20 years ago. Better late than never....Large groceries that
are publicly traded have PLENTY of money to cover this as they take advantage of the public crisisis and
make tons of money by raising prices on popular items during the COVID crisis. Don't feed corps more
money when they should be giving back to communities they operate and extort. In fact, if a large grocery
has any history of stock buybacks using Trumper tax cuts for rich instead of raising employee salaries or
giving back to community, then they should be excluded completely from any cost recovery for
paperbags....
I would prefer that some of the revenue from paper bags would go toward giving low income customers
reusable bags vs. paper bags if possible.
Thank you very much for doing this!
I support fees and banning of single use plastic, but leave paper bags alone! We often get paper bags, but
always reuse them in various ways!
Now (or better yet, yesterday) is the time to get serious on taking care of the environment!
Small businesses should be exempt from any bans.
Many of us in this community are concerned about the impacts of single-use plastics, but legislating,
charging fees and potentially escalating to audits and fines are not desirable, nor will they have a willing
reception. This type of ordinance failed here before for the same reasons it will likely fail again. There are
many larger issues of greater importance that are priorities for people here than a plastic bag ban.
Encourage recycling, re-using and phasing out single-use plastics in a positive, educational and accessible
manner and many more people are likely to voluntarily change habits. Legislation, forced compliance and
punishment are not the solutions to this type of issue. You have an entire sustainability department - is this
really the best they can come up with??
This is a great start, but other single use plastics should be targeted as well. To-go containers, plastic
cutlery, etc.
I'm surprised single-use plastic water bottles were not listed in the recent "Trails for 2021 | Eagle Watches |
Share Your Voice" email...
I think this is a very importance policy to implement. Our planet is severely impacted by plastics and we can
take action right here at home. They also cause death of animals. Plastic bags kill about 100,000 animals
annually. Many animals, including whales, dolphins, turtles, penguins, and dolphins, ingest plastic bags as
they mistake them food.
Plastic bags are non-biodegradable. Plastic can take up to 2000 years to completely decompose. In fact, all
the plastic that has ever been manufactured still lingers in the environment.
Plastic bags are made from petroleum products. Production of plastic takes 60-100 million barrels of oil
from the world’s petroleum reserves. Therefore, plastic contributes significantly to the depletion of this
valuable resource, making the prices of petroleum products to rise every passing day.
Plastic food storage packages have toxic chemicals. Studies have shown that meals that are eaten or
heated in plastic bags result in the development of ulcers, asthma, obesity, and certain cancers.
Using less plastic will lead to manufacturing less plastic which will reduce our use of fossil fuel. Personally I
do not want to see plastic bags up in trees or along the roadside either.
We have GOT to get a handle on plastics in the ecosystem. Things are so much worse with the pandemic
and everything being disposable and rarely recyclable. And I’ve noticed it’s near impossible to find clothes
for my family anymore that isn’t some sort of polyester (plastic) blend. This ban on bags is a step in the
right direction and needs to be the first of many many steps.
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Education!!
Not everyone is aware of the impact of plastics on our land and oceans, and this could be perceived as just
another annoying demand from a small and specific group.
In order for people to want to follow and support culturally accepted behaviors like mindlessly using plastic
bags and throwing them away, we all need to come together at some place to agree that this is an
important change to make, and that we all support each other in making the change.
In our own privilege it is important that we ask WHY this will be disproportionately stressful for some people
in our community. It is important that we consider how such a “small” ask can be another grating stress for
many in our community who make Herculean efforts to just get through a day.
Let's please do this! Perhaps for low-income residents, the City or businesses can provide re-usable
canvas bags during the transition, and then at a later point impose paper bag fees .
Retraining retailers to no put purchased products in bags to start with. For instance, you don't need to put
one item such as a birthday card in a bag. Or ask customers if they want a bag to start with. Some people
will just put it in their purse.
Concerned with timing of vote with current covid pandemic. Unless you bag your own groceries.. service
ware. Is time consuming, you must use plastic or paper..
So HOW to communicate need for ban at this time.
Do wish take out would ask before adding serviceware.
While I support a ban on plastic full-heartedly, I cannot support a policy that imposes a forced regressive
tax.
Even with an "exemption for low-income individuals" there are many who would be left out. The method I
assume to be implemented would be based SNAP or other welfare programs. This would leave out
undocumented, houseless, and other disadvantaged groups whose lives do not fit into grossly inadequate
means-testing of our government. I strongly do not support any policy which puts undue burden on citizens
who can barely afford their groceries to begin with.
Policies similar to this have been successful around the world. I completely support this policy, and can
only hope my fellow citizens agree, as this will only improve our city and the environment that sustains us.
Taking into account the more and most impacted by these changes is also vital, and lastly, putting forth a
way to enforce the plastic ban and charges for paper bags will ensure long lasting success of this policy
and our city.
Many people reuse these bags. Also local grocers can not even order paper bags right now. Better to use
the city resources to educate the public not to throw out, but recycle plastic.
Thank you for taking this on, Fort Collins!
Please ban plastic bags.
We are way behind in this area and should implement the proposed policies.
I do agree that if you implement this policy, you have to measure it. What I hope does not happen is that
the measurement aspects, i.e. audit, civil penalties and reporting, require significant resources on your part
and detract from greater priorities.
Also, as you roll this out, remember to tie the impacts to individual health and well-being, as well as any
economic benefits, for the folks who really don't care about the environment.
Additionally, whatever the City can do to promote use of personal container use for use or refill, ie. coffee,
bulk liquid products, etc. would be useful in limiting single use plastics consumption. Currently State (?)
guidelines won't allow retailers (coffee shops, Food Co-op) to allow consumers to use their own containers.
This may be a COVID related policy but has no merit as personal container use is promoted and deemed
safe by environmental organizations.
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training of employees in personal bag use is important, often when I have informed baggers of my wish to
not use a plastic bag, they remove my item and but the bag in the trash - this cancels out the intent and
purpose of reducing single use plastics. The bag should be returned to stock, not thrown out
For every plastic bag send to bag groceries, there are maybe 3 other plastic bags used for produce and
often meat products. This must also be addressed! We must all take the time to be stewards of a
sustainable Earth!
I dont mind paying a fee. If the fee is minimal everyone should pay it. Maybe the lowest income folks can
be given reusable bags.
Although it's beyond the city's ability to control state and national policies, I support a ban on plastic
wherever possible. This is why I choose products that are packaged more sustainably and take reusable
bags to the store when shopping.
I personally use the plasstic bags for the double-bagging and disposing of adult diapers. Currently, my cost
to do this is nothing. With the implimentation of your policy, I will need to purchase bags to do this. It will not
cut down on my need for bags. It will only increase as my spouse deteriorates. An option would be for the
city to "confiscate" all the grocery bags when the policy is implimented ands then offer them to those people
who have a legitimate need for them.
Bag fee makes profit for big stores, do not support profit for pollution.
Bag fee is less than cost to local retailers, do not harm local businesses.
Low-income should not be allowed to pollute, applies to all or none, cannot exempt 20% of population and
be taken seriously, Section 2(D).
Other plastics are a bigger problem.
2014 bag fee objections have not changed, will be overturned for same reasons, don't waste time, or are
you counting on COVID-19 to limit petition signatures?
Sustainability Services Area has been a disaster, heart in right place, but implementation fails, bag fee is
similar.
Plastic pollution is a problem, bag fee makes it worse, not better.
Stainless straws worse than plastic, need to stop going backwards.
Open to total ban or tax for ending plastic pollution.
Question 4(b), civil penalties, also criminal penalties, make illegal for store person, business fines passed
on the customer/employee, civil is not real incentive. Fine to stop national stores will put local store out of
business. Neither owner, manager, employee wants to go to jail.
Do not start May 1 2022, Jan 1st 2022 or 2023.
Since durable bags cannot be recycled, how can a bag fee that replaces a recycle product with a trash
product, be a part of a "solid waste reduction program", Section 2(C). Will the Zero Waste Program be
abandoned?
Section 2(E), keep government out of business, external controls, not internal controls.
Section 2(G), Silo view, only looks at bags reduced and shows win. Need breadth view, what increased?
Do people buy more trash bags since they can no longer use grocery bags for free? This is why
Sustainability Services Area has failed. Do not manage headline number down while bringing other
numbers up. Need systematic or permaculture view.
Bag drive to provide free reusable bags for low income residents. Extend the ban to single use takeout
containers (some places already have reusable ones) or at least require they are of plastic accepted by city
recycling.
Why wait until 2022? If you're serious, do it 2021
Other cities have done this. We need to catch up.
The world is being strangled by plastics - to be world class, Fort Collins must be a leader in removing
disposable plastics from our supply chains.
https://www.gettyimages.com/photos/plastic-waste?phrase=plastic%20waste&sort=mostpopular
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I believe this is creating more an of issue through trickle down consequences than actually solving a real
problem. It financially burdens everyone from the grocers to the consumers. I think this is a short sighted
and irresponsible measure to pass, especially during COVID shut downs. The City is facing revenue short
falls now and well into the future and citizens are fighting to keep their jobs. We can't even go out to eat,
why are you trying to ban bags?
Please do this!
January 5, 2021
I would like to offer my comments regarding any bag ordinance the city council may propose. While the
current initiative seems to target only large grocery stores I would still like to comment for potential future
laws.
My wife and I operate a small retail business in Fort Collins and have for over 27 years. Our business has
nearly 25,000 sku’s (stock keeping units or individual items) and many are sold to the customer individually
and unpackaged other than a specific product label. Some type of “bagging” is often required for the
customer to manage once they leave the store.
We primarily use paper bags of several sizes (5-6) and plastic bags of differing sizes (3-4) to protect
expensive sheet paper stock, mat boards or finished Custom Framed pieces.
As every transaction is different, some with a few items and some with many, we ask the customer if they
would like a bag first before packaging their order. I would estimate about 60% to 70% of the time we use
a bag of some sort at the customer’s request.
We try to reuse packaging as much as is feasible on products we receive. We reuse manufacturers paint
boxes, slip sheets etc.
We have checked into having reusable canvas bags made or “Recycled Plastic” versions and those are
between $5.00 -$10.00 each our cost depending on quantity. These would not serve the needs for larger
items, framed pieces, or several loose items (pastels and charcoal sticks for example).
From personal experience inside and out of our business I would estimate by far most of the bag impact on
the environment is caused by the standard plastic T-Shirt style bag commonly used at Grocery store,
Target, Home Depot, Lowes, Good Will etc. We need several versatile packaging/ bagging solutions for
our business. A one size fits all approach rarely is the best option and certainly not in this case.
I recall that the prior bag ordinance proposed in Fort Collins was going to require inventory tracking of bags
used by the retailer, reporting to the city and then staff efforts to track, monitor and administer the program.
This approach could significantly multiply the costs associated with the “bagging” portion of the transaction
for the retailer, customer, and the city.
And for a minute please consider how much extra packaging waste is generated locally because of all the
on-line shopping. Each on-line purchase creates at least one box or envelope and internal packaging, a
truck to deliver it, additional street maintenance, traffic, and trash.
I am not sure what the best approach is. Maybe there are more environmentally friendly versions of the
standard T-shirt plastic bag that are compostable that would make improvements for 90% of the local bag
problem. Certainly, to address all bags required at the retail level with a single approach does not seem
like a good idea.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Steven R. Williams
Jerry’s Artarama – Fort Collins
IN THE FUTURE, PLEASE INCLUDE WHAT THE CITY WILL SPEND ANNUALLY, ENFORCING AND
MANAGING THE IMPLEMATION, CIVIL PENALTIES, REPORTING OF THIS PROGRAM AND
PROGRAMS LIKE THIS. INCLUDE CITY EMPLOYEE WAGES WITH BURDEN (BENIFITS), TRAINING,
OFFICE EQUIPTMENT AND COMPUTER REQUIREMENTS.
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please ban styrofoam also, and plastic straws, and all plastics
A plastic bag ban and paper bag fee are long overdue. These are very simple measures that can have a
large beneficial impact. Any negative impacts (e.g., on low-income customers) can be easily overcome with
some foresight and planning.
Instead of exempting low income at point of sale, make it easy for low income to apply and have some
unmarked normal looking reusable bags sent out to them. My mom was on wic when I was a kid and I still
remember her being embarrassed at checkout when something wasn’t approved or went right. We need
less of that
This is ridiculous! We are not even allowed to use our own bags now due to COVID. Yes, I'm sure that this
will have ended by the time your implementation would go into place, but to ban plastic bags is dumb. I
reuse these bags all the time for cleaning out our Cat Litter Boxes, as well as for trash bags for the smaller
trash cans. If you ban plastic bags, I will still have to buy them for our waste. If you want to spend money
on incentivizing folks to use paper and reusable bags, offer $.05 for each bag that a Citizen does NOT use.
As long as the fees don't impact low income households, i support banning plastic bags as an
environmental measure
Overall, I support any approach that:
- increases stable recycling/composting efforts
- reduces or eliminates true waste (material that cannot be recycled/composted/biodegraded)
For the paper bag fee, I overall support it. I think that large grocery business can receive a one-time fee to
help with transitioning operations from plastic to paper, but it shouldn’t be on-going financial support. A
grocery should not have an issue providing bag alternatives without receiving additional fee income (and I
could see some companies abusing the system if they are “eligible” to receive fee income).
Great idea, a move in the right direction. Thank you!
While I hate plastic bags (among other things, they do a terrible job of holding the contents) and have been
a fan of re-useable shopping bags, I also firmly believe that a better approach is to collaborate and
convince rather than relying on coersion, thus making the outcome a win-win instead of a win-lose. My
recommendation is to substitute imagination and shared leadership for legislation and enforcement.
Why not take a free-market approach where re-useable shopping bags – nicely made, FOCO branded, and
with eye-catching graphics carrying a "Save The Poudre" message - are produced and wholesaled (at a
profit) by the city? The profits could be used to fund community outreach and other programs that the “fee”
is intended to offset. Plus each bag would be a mobile billboard advertising the effort.
I’m fairly sure that prominent members and leaders of the Fort Collins business community (e.g. OtterBox,
REI, New Belgium, O’Dells,OldTown merchants, etc.) could be brought on board with a little effort.
Community organizations such as school groups, Boy and Girl Scout troops and Church organizations
could sell the bags as fundraisers. Also, I bet that the supermarkets that are the real target of this initiative
would be happy to retail the bags if there was a profit in it for them.
All this year we’ve been hearing the “...we’re all in this together..” mantra. The goal should be to get as
much of our community pulling on the oars as possible instead of handing them more mandates, rules and
fees.
Support banning plastic bags but not a fee for paper bags.
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I do not think this should end with bags. I feel very strongly that grocers need to stop providing products in
nonrecyclable plastics, like clamshells. I am unsure about giving low income people a break on bag fees. If
you do, they might not be motivated to bring their own bags, and how would you even be able to monitor
that or ask them to prove hardship? I think I’d rather see the city fund a program (Use that paper bag fee
for) for giving low-income people the number of reusable grocery bags they need as a once a year or two
event and expect citizens to start using them (i.e., no second time until the next bag dispensing event).
There is no reason I can think of why someone of low income could not use reusable bags. In fact, of the
people I note with their own bags in the stores, it is almost never someone who looks like they might be low
income (granted, I am stereotyping, but hey). I am also not in favor of grocery stores retaining any bag
fees, as they should have phased out bags a long time ago and never should have started the plastic bag
thing to begin with. I do not empathize with their cause. They have power to make some important changes
and I feel they have the means, the budgets, and the responsibility to do that. They have aided and abetted
this scourge of plastic in the name of being cheap. So, the paper bag fee I would far more likely support if it
was to do education campaigns in schools, churches, businesses, and so on, and to ensure that low
income people have reusable bags. Again, though, I am unsure how you would prove hardship in this case.
I do not feel that coffee shops and such should continue to use anything but compostable cups and
dishware/flatware, although I remain extremely doubtful that “Compostable” plastics are any better. I do
think people ought to be rewarded for reusing their own cups and takeout ware, and penalized by fee for
not doing that. Straws should be banned. Every store that sells take ought to also sell the reusable ware
customers can buy, like reusable straws, bowls, cups, etc. There is no reason to have any longer to allow
restaurants to use those styrofoam boxes for leftovers. If they need to charge a small 5 of 10 cent fee for a
doggie bag item container that is compostable (cardboard, e.g.), so be it. But styrofoam should be illegal. It
should also be illegal in packaging. Thankfully, I am starting to see recycled cardboard forms used instead
of styrofoam, but not often enough. Another scourge is plastic plant pots. The nurseries should be required
to take them back for reuse or use only compostable pots made of cardboard. i am talking from the small
flats of plants all the way to 1-gallon pots, and making it mandatory to return the big 5+ gallon pots
(customer leaves a deposit and gets it refunded when they return the pots). Appliances and IT hardware
should be manufactured only with recyclable or reusable materials or parts. Hotels and motels should NOT
be allowed to use those packages that go with the coffee stations in the rooms because nobody ever uses
everything in the package, which includes plastic wrap and a plastic stir stick. There is no reason why they
could supply individual sugar packets, a napkin dispenser, and wooden stir sticks in paper wrapping. Then
there is CSU, where I work. It APPALS me to no end that students are not required to do a better job of
sorting, recycling. Sometime after covid, go to the Lory Center and see how pathetic it is... barrels full of
everything from food waste to trash to recyclables. I once spoke to someone who said that custodial staff
actually go through that mess to sort. WHAT? I could NOT believe it! Not only is that time consuming thus
expensive and putting staff at risk, it teaches these soiled college kids nothing! During the busiest hours,
there should be a student proctor system whereby students proctor other students at trash and compost
and recycle barrels to ensure proper sorting. There also should be better signage and required training for
all students on proper trash/compost/recycling at the start of each semester. I could go on and on.... but I
will support just about anything we can do to stop plastics manufacture in the first place ahead of reuse,
repurpose, and last recycle, but also to start making the 3 Rs mandatory. Thank you for the opportunity to
comment.
I would hope that cardboard boxes would be an option as they are at Natural Grocers which has eliminated
plastic bags altogether. I would support a full ban on plastic grocery bags.
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Having seen the photos of beaches in Peru and Bali littered with plastic bags, I'm in favor of the ban. CO is
such an environmentally friendly state, and stopping plastic bags seems consistent with our values. When I
lived in Moscow more than a decade ago, every store charged a small fee to use plastic bags. There were
no paper bag options. That drove behavior.
I'm not in favor of adding a tax on paper bags - worry about the economic impact on large grocers.
Some other questions I have - would be helpful to have these answers:
1) where do plastic bags carried into the CO rivers end up?
2) what do the large grocers say about this proposal?
3) Can we suggest a ban on plastic without adding a tax on paper bags?
4) Given a number of other cities have implemented a ban on plastic bags, I'm curious what you've learned
from them about how they handle the regressive impact on this ban on low income population. What do
they do?
Thank you for your consideration and leadership in these issues.
This is very important. Thank you.
A plastic bag ban would be wonderful for our community and the health of the environment in general.
There is so much plastic waste these days, it is disgraceful! Anything we can do to help mitigate
disposable plastic waste is a priority. Lastly, please don't bend to the petroleum & plastic lobbyists who
claim that this is a burden on low-income residents. Bag fees are very minor, and reusable bags or boxes
are easy to come by - so there are easy substitutes to disposables. Petroleum & plastic companies
couldn't care less about low-income residents, they just want to maintain their profits and use this as an
excuse to block plastic bag bans!
Other large cities like Austin have implemented this policy. Please research the policies that have been
implemented and identify what made their effective. Coming from Austin, the learning curve is the hardest
part of switching to reusable bags. However, it was easy to adopt and if I didn't have a bag, I was charged
$0.10 for each bag. Small price to pay for a huge environmental impact.
The economic ripple effects will result in increased costs for grocery stores and local companies. The
environmental ripple effects will be far worse if we are unable to modernize our city and catch up to what so
many US cities have already done. Our water supply and our wildlife in Fort Collins are such an integral
part of what makes this a special city. City Council, do your part to ensure the integrity of our environment
by decreasing the amount of plastic waste that has a chance to end up in our rivers, our animals and our
city's beautiful open land.
Would this policy apply only to grocers or also to restaurants offering take out and other businesses (many
businesses currently use plastic bags)? How would businesses be supported in making this transition?
Could reusable bags be provided free of charge to low income shoppers? How would low income shoppers
be supported without significant hassle and stress (i.e. being asked to provide proof of income level each
time they buy groceries)? I am absolutely in support of a ban on plastic bags, but I am much less
supportive of a fee for paper bags. Why do you think the fee on paper bags is necessary? An argument for
the fee is not clear to me from all the information you have provided on this issue.
Plastics keep people healthy. Cloth bags get gross. Whatever policy is proposed should apply equally. If it
is important enough for some of us, it is important enough for all of us.
All this is good but I think that a bigger problem is all the single use plastic every where else. Walk into any
grocery store and you will see walls of food in single use "clam shell" containers that cannot be recycled. A
much bigger problem that plastic grocery bags.
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Contingency plans- When COVID started, recycled bags were not permitted. We need to prepare for a no-
fee solution if recycled bags are too risky. Second, how will financial need be determined at the grocery
store? If you were unemployed in one year your tax records may not show your current status. I do not
want to burden the moderate and low income on basic groceries because of a bag fee. I also do not want to
increase fees and risk of penalties to grocery stores, which may pass the cost to struggling families.
Needs to be proceeded by a strong educational campaign to prevent resentment of the City among the
less-informed
Stop this ridiculous micro-managing.
Please work on real problems like homeless population growth. People can just go to Timnath WalMart
and leave the store with a plastic bag and no tax $ for Fort Collins!
If you want to bring your own bags to the store, bring your own bags. Launch a marketing campaign even.
But don't force others to. Adding a fine to the better of two options after you've taken one away seems
ludicrous. It's hard to picture this as anything more than the elites of this town thinking they know best and
shoving it down everyone else's throats.
I support the ban on plastic bags and the fee on paper bags, and I support the audit. But I don't support
having penalties right at the outset. I would prefer to have faith in people to comply because they
understand and support these policy changes. However ... if good faith does not work to bring down the
level of plastic pollution within some reasonable time frame, then I would support implementing penalties at
that time. Thank you for taking these important steps to reduce plastic pollution!
Continue to allow and support reusable grocery bags to eliminate plastic and conserve our paper/trees.
Begin a strong community awareness and education program on the need to reduce plastic consumption
immediately. There is no need for the mass use of plastic produce bags that goes on. Education is
paramount. Some folks place already bagged produce in an additional plastic bag. Outrageous.
Any proposal dedicated to the well being of the Planet and the community regarding plastics needs to be
undertaken at the highest of levels. It is not difficult to shop with canvas and other reusable bags. I have
been for over 25 years. American consumers have been taught to be lazy and irresponsible when it comes
to over consumption of all resources!
Sincerely. Renee Price
Banning plastic bags is one topic. Charging a fee for paper bags is different and shouldn't grouped in study
questions. You could propose a ban on paper bags, too, but saying ban plastic bags and therefore a fee on
paper bags is necessary is deceptive.
There didn't used to be plastic bags. Somehow we were able to carry on without them. Like many other
large and small things we have to change our thinking. We can do it!
If this part of the survey is only on bags, then realize many other stores and fast food establishments put
products in plastic bags for customers to carry out. I strongly hope you also address the waste from fast
food plastic straws, lids, Styrofoam containers, plastic beverage bottles, and little plastic shooters (50 mL
liquor bottles).
Let's get it done!
No fee or small charge (5 cents / 1- cents) on the paper bags - the cost reductions and money saved from
businesses no longer having to purchase plastic bags should be used towards mitigating pollution +
retraining etc instead of pushing this cost onto consumers.
This issue is extremely important to me, and I am incredibly heartened to know that our city is focusing on
it. THANK YOU! Though I'm a full-time working mom, I would be happy to help out in any way that I can, so
please contact me if help is needed:
morganbridger@gmail.com
970-310-3699
During this pandemic, the grocery stores have gone back to using plastic bags. They will not use paper
and if you bring your own, you have to sack your groceries. Obviously, plastic is healthier for humans.
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The city wants to access fees and charges to solve everything. Plastic bags are an efficient way to
transport grocery items and other purchased goods. Is the problem at the other end of the process?
Should we be handling trash differently at the dump?
I think this is social engineering. I think it's up to the individual to determine whether they want to use
reuseable bags or not. In my mind, this is the same as mandatory recycling.
My biggest concern is for how low-income customers would be affected. What will the fee be? How would
their income be verified for the fee to be waived? Unless they are paying with a food assistance EBT card,
this sounds time consuming and possibly embarrassing. Could there be something added to customer
loyalty card accounts so that when the customer swipes their loyalty card, the bag fee is removed? For
stores without customer cards what alternative could be used (a barcode sent out by text to the customer's
phone, coupons, a different barcoded card)?
Please get input from different low-income populations before making decisions (including diverse
populations, not just white folx). Reach out to organizations who are already working with these populations
as well. I'm sure this survey isn't the only way you will be connecting input but I worry that the input given
here will reflect a more affluent perspective.
lets get rid of straws too, and see what we can do about non compostable packaging in fast and quick food.
until this pandemic is over, no plastic bag initiative should be put into place as grocers do not want to touch
shoppers reusable bags AND they don't appreciate when a shopper brings their own reusable bags and
bags their own groceries. The grocery store lines and long already due to the pandemic, social distancing
and horde purchasing, and if shoppers had to bring their own bags for groceries or else be charged there
would be ALOT longer lines! Please rethink the plastic bag initiative (at least the fee part) until after the
pandemic is past us. thanks!
I am disappointed to see the city council trying to pass this yet again. We have already voted this measure
down. Stop!
Thank you for bringing this policy proposal back into consideration.
Let's do this! :)
Using funds to distribute reusable bags to the community, especially low income homes, would be ideal.
I also support encouraging grocers to NOT wrap their produce in plastic.
Most people have a trunk full of reusable bags that they simply are not using - be it from lack of care, no
incentive, or just forgettfulness. The minute the fee is there, people will have an easier time remembering ;)
This will be next to no burden on anyone, but have a huge environmental impact for the better.
A plastic bag ban is so needed. We are late on this if you ask me. I have been using cloth bags for years
now. It is not hard.
Most people might have too many cloth bags at home. People can find them at thrift stores if price is an
issue.
No more excuses !
Thank you !
We have been down this road before and the community was adamant they did not want a fee on bags.
This should have been done years ago.
I think this is a very complicated issue. Given how light they are, are plastic bags worse for energy
resources used than paper bags? Not per weight, but per use. Or is it that they cause other environmental
problems that paper bags don't. What about reusable bags? I've heard they carry contaminants and need
to be washed, and I've heard they must be reused 100 or so times before the energy savings makes them
better than disposable bags. I just don't want to rush into something because it sounds great without a
thorough analysis of the energy and pollution tradeoffs. And, low income people shouldn't have to pay a
fee.
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BS. There are better ways to solve problems than superficial BS banning. The solution is worse than the
problem. Educate, inspire, influence.
Providing reusable bags to people in need, particularly those already accessing programs like WIC or food
stamps through collaborations with the county can greatly diminish the impact to persons in need. Plastic
bag bans are beneficial to the community and important, but other measures including more widely and
publicly available thin film plastic recycling and enforcing restrictions on commercial use of thin film and
Styrofoam packaging materials will greatly impact those waste areas
The sooner the better!
Use money to provide cloth bags to those that need them and put reminders around town. Thank you!
Please consider adding a Styrofoam ban to this! Thank you for thinking of the environmental crises we are
in.
Please stop trying to model our community based on others that do similar. If so PLEASE go spend time in
those communities and ask yourself if you would ever want to truly live there. It is why I moved here and
away from”there”
Why are we waiting until May 2022 to do what other green cities have been doing for years.
Do not allow anything that is not recyclable to be used! This includes all carry out packages!
Great!
I do not support this because we re-use our grocery bags and not having them will force us to buy new
bags which means the creation of more plastic – it is merely trading one for the other. We re-use our bags
to line trash cans, pick up dog poop, carry library books, sack lunches, and other things. If we don’t have
bags to re-use we will have to buy trash can liners and dog poop bags, etc.
At this time of Covid-19, many people are re-using grocery sacks to dispose of possibly contaminated items
more sanitarily. Without them we would be buying new bags. At this time of Covid-19, plastic bags are
more sanitary in the store than having many peoples’ dirty cloth bags put up on the counters.
Unfortunately, during the pandemic it is unsafe for many people to bring the bags to a recycle place so
many are being put in the trash. When the pandemic is over, more bags will be recycled. If there would be
a ban started, if should be after Covid.
I have seen a problem at the recycling center that causes bags to fly away. Too often there is simply no
room for the bags in the container and so they are left on the side and blow away. We need to fix the
system so it is easier to recycle and things can be left securely inside a large enough container that will
prevent them from blowing away. As we have seen with other recycling, people will recycle if they are
given an easy system.
The only ones who benefit from this are the stores who will make money selling the bags and the city which
will get the other 50%. The burden will fall to the people – we will have to pay for bags one way or the
other. Perhaps the stores should be required to sell biodegradable bags or compostable bags.
Better recycling
In Ireland this has been around since 2002, and works very well. Even low income people were not
opposed to it (I was one). People started to remember their bags very quickly. Also the plastic pollution
dropped off drastically. The tax started at 15c and is now 22c for a bag. It was only a big deal for a very
short time and now people can’t imagine getting a plastic bag in a shop. I don’t see it as an issue for low
income people, everyone has bags. It is a huge cost to the environment. Lots of shops there gave out
reusable carrier bags when it started (you can still buy decent reusable bags in most stores for €1). It was
good advertising for stores when it started. Most people have these bags here too. Why wait until May of
2022?
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It should be up to people to choose. Not forced on us. Use the $ you are putting in to pushing for the ban
and educate people to make a choice of there own. It is not the gov responsibility to force its people to do
such a stupid thing as a plastic ban.
This is not California or Boulder. Please take these stupid ideas back to whichever of these you came
from. I've lived in Fort Collins 40 years. My wife has lived here 56 years. We are seriously considering
moving away because the ideas brought forward by the young and stupid transplants are assinine. This is
unnecessary. If you think this is important, your life has been too short to realize what is really important.
Knock it off!
The city of Fort Collins is already too expensive to live in. You will only be adding extra expenses and
restrictions to people already struggling
I do no support a ban on any bags at all
Can this not be implemented quicker? It’s long over due. I would rather seen low income folks be offered
free reusable bags, but I’m also not low income and don’t have that perspective.
I am old enough to remember when we had to get rid of paper bags because it was destroying the forests.
The plastic does recycle. The current sorting machines plug up with them. Fix the damn processing
method.
I strongly support this measure (and have supported it for years) because it will positively impact our
environment and is easy to adjust to. I made the switch to re-usable bags years ago. Within a few weeks
and a few new practices in place (like hanging our bags on a hook in the garage near our car) it became
part of our lifestyle. If we are out and about and forget a bag, we ask to reload the items in the cart, put
them in our car and load them into the forgotten bags when we get home for ease of carrying into the
kitchen. For those who complain about having to now buy plastic trash bags, that is just a necessary cost
of producing trash and should be shouldered by each consumer.
Please catch up with the times and take aggressive action to reduce plastics pollution. Please also mitigate
negative impacts on low-income households by providing free or subsidized reusable bags to those
households.
Thank you for addressing the issue of plastic waste. I constantly "talk trash" about how bad plastics are, but
still find myself using them all the time because they are so ubiquitous. This is a bigger problem than
personal choice. I'm handed so many plastic bags, containers, and plastic utensils that I either do not need
at all, or use for about 5 minutes. I then I have to store them and bring them to the recycling center (where
the plastics might be repurposed, but are still plastic in our environment), or I throw them away and they
take 500 years to degrade - causing who knows what damage to plants, animals, rivers, oceans, drinking
water, and human life in the meantime. Businesses will reduce the distribution of plastic when there's
financial repercussions. I fully support this ordinance.
I could understand this kind of policy if there wasn't a way to both reuse and recycle bags. I direct a food
pantry in town where we reuse these bags to give items to the clients. The clients then reuse plastic bags in
all kinds of ways on a daily basis which is one of the reason we utilize plastic grocery bags.
Also, "low-income households" have so much to deal with applying for basic necessities that to ask them to
have yet another program to apply to or to consider doesn't make sense. The Murphy Center was created
to streamline the application process and there aren't enough staff to meet the demand as it is
The fact that we are answering this question "Annual reporting on disproportionate impacts of the policy on
low-income households and other historically underrepresented groups" demonstrates the fact that there is
a high probability this will indeed be true.
Fort Collins should not have policies like this so there is NO discrimination against those who can't afford
this kind of policy, particularly at a time when many people are impacted by "Covid-19".
Thank you for considering my input.
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How would this effect both take out and veggies? While I support the paper bags at grocery stores, putting
unbagged veggies (like a head of lettuce) in them does not work.
In terms of take out, plastic bags have saved me from many curry spills in the car.
Instead of a low income pass, could everyone in the city be provided with reusable bags? If a fee is
charged for paper bags, it could go towards funding this. Free replacement bags for low income?
I am very excited about Fort Collins taking action on plastic pollution. If anything, I would like to see
additional action to reduce single use plastics in other situations (e.g., takeout containers and silverware,
straws, plastic water bottles, etc)
In the past, grocers provided paper bags at no cost, so I do not support a paper bag fee.
Just make sure that you don't make things more expensive for low-income individuals and families. And,
frame the roll-out as a positive idea, not a government mandate or people will freak out.
I am very pleased to see this issue under consideration, it is very important to me. The health and balance
of our environment is directly tied to the health of our community's citizens. There will be concern about a
bag fee, which is understandable as many citizens struggle with finances, however we as a community can
not allow the co tinued compromise of health for the sake of convenience. There are many organizations
that give away free reusable bags; will a listing of those organizations be made available? Can a network of
free reusable bags providers be offered to low income citizens to help with the transitions? Could a pay it
forward style program with business be created, where a shopper could donate and that would cover the
paper bag fee for a low income citizen or someone else? Thank you for tackling this important and
complicated issue.
I'd also support a program to provide low-income households with re-usable bags.
I support the ban of plastic but not the fee on paper. Your survey doesn't allow appropriate answers for
those with a similar perspective
The community would benefit for this to be for all grocers, not just large grocers. Additionally why wait till
May 2022, if approved this could be rolled out in 2021 with enforcement starting 2022. Will there be a
phase 2 that focuses on box stores?
Long overdue.
A plastic bag ban is a great thing for the environment, but should not be a hardship for low-income persons,
nor a burden from an administrative perspective for retailers.
Fort Collins should not impose a ban on single-use plastic bags.
The burden of such a ban would fall disproportionately on poor and lower middle-class residents. Upper
middle-class people can keep a stash of bags in the trunk of their car for convenient use, however, that is
not an option for people who use public transport. Thus, it isn’t fair from a social-justice perspective and
would result in an extra expense for those who can least afford it.
From an environmental perspective, single-use plastic bags are not as bad as many alternatives when
factors beyond litter are taken into consideration. Single-use plastic scores better than alternatives when
accounting for factors such as the impact of manufacturing on climate change, ozone depletion, water use,
air pollution, and human toxicity. The Denmark Environment Ministry has studied the trade-offs and plastic
comes out on top for almost all environmental concerns (see article: https://qz.com/1585027/when-it-
comes-to-climate-change-cotton-totes-might-be-worse-than-plastic/ or detailed study results:
https://www2.mst.dk/Udgiv/publications/2018/02/978-87-93614-73-4.pdf).
Some kind of tax credit for businesses that comply early
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I think plastic bags should be banned everywhere and not just the large stores. If there is a need for reusable bags for
low-income people, stores and businesses can donate some bags. For example, the Market Days program for seniors
has sturdy reusable bags provided every shopping week with various logos on them.
How does this proposed policy affect the disabled community? Carrying groceries in paper bags is much more difficult
and will also require many more trips from the car to the home as an example.
Why is this currently a City priority in the midst of a pandemic, especially considering reusable bags are currently not
allowed to be used and grocery stores.
What problem is the City truly trying to solve, or is this just an effort to keep up with the likes of Boulder and
California?
What does gender, sexual orientation, education, race, income and other questions have to do with a policy
discussion about the what type of bags should be allowed at grocery and other retail stores?
City leadership should thoroughly vet the potential unintentional consequences that will result from a ban on plastic
grocery bags and be conscious of the "tone-deaf" message this type of ordinance sends during COVID and ask
themselves what problem are we trying to solve?
Since it is only large grocery stores affected, I think they should be able to implement it more quickly than May of
2022.
If this ballot measure passes and prior to implementation, a baseline of existing sales should be established and then
annual reporting should include whether there is an increase/decrease in sales across the city by grocery stores,
department stores like Target and Walmart, etc. of small waste can liners (3 to 4 gallon size) to supplant the needs of
consumers that still require plastic bags for purposes that cannot be satisfied by reusable shopping bags. Such uses
include cat litter box clean-out, residential kitchen and bathroom wet trash disposal, dog waste, etc.
National Public Radio ran a story on this very issue and their report identified research indicating that more plastic is
consumed in communities that ban plastic bags and that the carbon footprint and impact to the environment caused
in the production of reusable shopping bags is greater than when communities don't force bans on plastic shopping
bags. Don't take my word for it, listen to the story yourselves....
https://www.npr.org/2019/05/08/721542495/the-problem-with-banning-plastic-bags
If the City truly was data driven and a leader in this realm, it would not be plodding down the path to ban plastic bags
without first exploring this higher possible consumption of plastics and using such data in its decision making. This
feels much like a need to "check a box" so that the city can say it is in a special club alongside the communities that
have already done it...like keeping up with the Jones', rather than actually making a data-driven decision about its
climate future. Perception seems to be a higher priority than reality.
If someone cannot afford reusable bags, to take to the store, maybe a business in town or one of the Clubs, like
Rotary, might take this on as a project.
It takes some change in habits, but it is really quite easy to bring your own bags and stop using plastic. Education is
key.
If you ban plastic bags,You CAN NOT charge for paper bags. Government OVER REACH!!!!!
I think the time spent on determining impacts to low-income households could be better spent on programs that have
a positive impact on these groups. I would start with 1 type of plastic bag (standard grocery) and then expand in the
future.
You are going after the grocers for plastic bags and mentioned restaurants with plastic utensils and straws. But I don't
see mention of banning restaurant items or charging extra. If you go after the restaurants, you should also include
Styrofoam food/drink containers. Cardboard is much more environmentally friendly.
A ban is the only solution. The problem starts at the cash register. But maybe support for free reusable bags for low
income customers is wiser than an exemption on plastics. Don't brand those bags as clearly "poor people bags." Build
a subsidized campaign in which merchants can brand their new reusable bags at a lower cost. Get guys like me to buy
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them in packs of 5. Reward the eagerly cooperating merchants for reducing their plastic bag use with a financial
incentive. Make it positive for them.
each/every grocery store needs to do their parts ASAP. 90+ % of Whole food shoppers bring their own bags, Sprout
85%, KingSoopers 70%, Safeway 60% and worst is Walmart 0%.
While I strongly oppose the use of single-use plastic shopping bags, bringing this proposition forward in the middle of
a pandemic when stores will not allow the use of reusable bags is extremely poor timing. Also, it is folly to propose
banning single-use plastic bags and propose a fee for paper bags at the same time.
Due to the pandemic, there has been a significant increase in customers using grocery store curbside pickups and only
plastic bags are used by most grocers. The City should consider if the ban will change the type of bags grocery stores
will continue to use for curbside pickup and how that will add to the cost of the customer's bill. Grocers will need to
train their employees to consolidate groceries in fewer bags as they have a habit of putting 1-2 items in a bag.
I realize that right now the market for recycled products is not there, making it hard to encourage recycling. And the
rules for what can and cannot be recycled makes it difficult for citizens to follow those rules. Plastics manufacturers
have increased the reusable/recyclable potential for their products. I would encourage an educational approach: how
can we creatively reuse plastics? I am strongly opposed to yet another government intervention that I am sure is
believed to be for our own good. Our taxes continue to go up, the cost of goods sold increases. Do we really want to
add one more fine to our lives? Will this actually make Fort Collins the city of choice to live in?
This is absolutely ridiculous social engineering. It is not aligned with values of a free society.
Free choice and market will eliminate plastics IF it benefits us, not a small group imposing their socialistic values on
the rest of us. We don't want dictates from bureaucrats, nor misery like in California. Stop the nonsense.
I've lived in places with a plastic bag ban. You get used to it. It's probably a good policy in the long run. However,
Fort Collins is a nice place to live because people aren't as "strident" and "condemning". People here are "nice"
liberals, not mean ones (as they tend to be in Oregon, where I lived for a while.) It's always a good idea to be kind and
gentle about ideas like this, and not self-righteous and condemning.
Please implement this ban. It it well past the time when this should have been done.
I love this idea, and I think it should be expanded past plastic bags and grocers. It should also be extended to
restaurants and places that regularly provide consumers with single use plastics without giving them another option. I
would love to see plastic utensils and to go containers disappear, as those are just as harmful it the environment.
I fully support banning plastic bags. Paper bags, however, are less harmful to the environment. If a fee for paper bags
is enacted, I would like to see low-cost ways for households to obtain reusable bags. Perhaps the city can even give
grocers/other retail a subsidy to provide reusable bags at the beginning of the program to its customers.
In other countries, I have lived in, the business also provides plastic bags but customers have to pay for them. I would
also suggest the business provide reusable bags for sale. People will complain at first but will get used to the change
rather quickly.
I think the most important component of any new policy is education particularly trying to get shoppers to rethink
how any product is transported from a store to their home in a matter of a short time- you do not need so many
plastic bags to do this. We need a cultural shift so it becomes automatic like putting on seat belts that we always use
reusable bags. It's not that hard, but we need to make this happen. Thanks for presenting this most important issue.
This is my second survey. I changed my mind because I don't think targeting grocers is fair or fosters competition.
What about the big box stores who are also selling groceries? It appears that they are already taking business from
the major grocers. This just helps them and reduces our options as consumers. Also, a big concern is if stores just use
multi-use plastic (thicker bags) to get around the ordinance. Then that add more plastic pollution. I strongly support
good legislation to reduce plastic. It needs to be smart and fair.
An overall ban should not be enacted.
Rather education and education so that the consumer is drawn to reusable bags.
I currently will try to use reusable bags but sometimes forget to grab them. I do not want to be penalized for the
occasional slip up.
Implement incentives to encourage people to use reusable bags, instead of forcing penalties on people.
If the store keeps part of the fee they should be required to give one free reuseable bag for every 50 dollars to 100
dollars of an order. Why stop at single use bags? What about plastic cups, straws, and single use self-serve and hot
food containers?
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I'm strongly in favor of this ordinance. Aside from the effect this may have on other local municipalities that may
consider a similar policy, it will have a direct impact on local trash collection be extending the life of our landfill.
The only reason that I don't support implementing a plastic bag ban in May 2022 is that that date is too far away. I'm
already astonished that we're only having this conversation in Fort Collins now, in 2020. (Every other place in which
I've lived in the past few years has already made this move.) I think that this policy needs to be implemented the day
before as soon as possible.
I am strongly against all of the above options. We live in a free society, if someone doesn't want bags then they are
free not to use them and charging for them doesn't reduce their use its just another tax disguised as something else.
Thank you
Reusable bags spread germs. Banning one-time use bags when, thanks to COVID, we aren't even allowed to use our
own bags seems very short-sighted.
Bad time with COVID-19, equity impacts ignored, small thinking (it really ignores the single bag usage), “me too” is not
leading, would favor circular economic approach
During this time of unprecedented pandemic and the impact it has had in businesses and citizens this has to be a very
poor decision by 5 of the city council members.
In fact, they are so out of touch with the real world it is extremely disappointing. Also , have they even considered
citizens bringing in their own bags that might be contaminated with potential COVID exposure. Also, how would that
work with citizens picking up groceries that are delivered to their car.
This is the wrong time to even consider this and citizens have told them before that this fee was not wanted or
needed.
Government has already done everything to hurt business and people. Just another blow to individuals. If you don’t
believe in plastic. Don’t use it!!
I have reusable bags. Several. I don't use them due to convenience. I am also cheap, so if I had to pay to use a paper
bag, my reusable bags would become far more convenient and my behavior would change. I doubt I am alone in this
thinking. But why wait until 2022?
Many of us recycle or reuse plastic bags for summer food markets, pet waste, and various other projects....you need
to research this more.
I will shop outside Fort Collins if this occurs.
Thank you for doing this.
I feel we need to advocate at the State level to change the ‘ban on bans’ of single use plastics as well.
I don’t think municipalities can enact bans on plastics at the moment. I believe the only thing possible is to enact such
a large tax (with provisions for low income to get reusable bags) that no one will want to pay it and will find more
sustainable ways to transport their items.
A really large fee like 1.00-2.00. The point is not to collect the fee but to stop the use of disposable bags.
Also needed at the State level-ban on use of polystyrene take out containers. reps singer and Hooton have expressed
interest.
utilize the fees to offer reusable bags free of charge to low-income households
I think this is a great step in the right direction towards reducing the use of single-use plastics in our community. The
reduction of single-use plastics is a great way to reduce our community's environmental footprint. Plastic bag bans or
fees have been introduced elsewhere (including other Colorado communities, Breckenridge for example) with
success, so I do believe its as good a time as any to start taking active measures to reduce our community's
environmental impact.
Thank you for proposing the ban on plastic bags, and a few on paper bags. People will adapt quickly to bringing their
own bags; many do this already. Eliminating plastic bags has already been done in many countries, and several cities
in the USA. If not for industry lobbyists, this would have been done years ago.
Just do it. Along with Styrofoam. Painful at fiest and quickly forgotten .
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The policy as proposed will cause a direct increase in purchase of additional plastic bags for a variety of purposes
currently addressed by re-purposing both plastic and paper bags. Plastic bags not re-purposed are often re-cycled
through the city required sites at grocery stores. Additional education could increase this dramatically.
Lumping fines for paper bag into a Plastics Policy makes zero sense as they represent none of the problems dictated in
the above policy. Any reference to paper bags should be removed.
I support implementing this sooner than May 2022. I also support expanding beyond 'large grocers' to include most, if
not all, businesses.
How about just educating consumers instead of treating them like children.
Plastic doesn't pollute, people do. Stop it with these stupid policies.
People and businesses are already struggling and you want to throw this policy at then as well.
Stop with these policies that don't have a real positive impact.
I love the idea of a plastic bag ban but am uncertain about also imposing a fee on paper bags. I think including this will
make more members not want to vote for this and we need to think of the greater good, as well as affordability and
accessibility. How would you even go about low income folks being exempt? Seems unnecessary to add that fee.
People want to see plastic bags go. I do, and know many others who do too. I think the best solution is to mandate
grocers to stop using them, and just use paper bags instead. Many grocers already offer discounts when you bring
your own bags - that would be something I'd love to see the city cover through tax revenues, rather than charging
fines and paper bag fees. Cover discount incentives for those who bring their own bags. Positive reinforcement :)
This policy seems excellent to me. I strongly support a plastic bag ban!
This is great that the city is trying to take action as the convenience does not out weigh the cost of non reusable bags.
I also am glad that the city is trying to take into account low income member in our community who need to be taken
into account so they are not disenfranchised by this ban.
There will be painful transition period but once individuals are properly trained to bring their own bags we will all be
the better for it. Plastic, “disposable” bags are just lazy and irresponsible.
Do not charge a fee for paper bags. They are recyclable. Just ban the plastic. I would vote no if you charge a fee for
paper. Why should paper users have to pay for plastic violators? That's ridiculous. The grocers do not need paper
bag fee. KS switched to plastic only in NOCO. There was no single, no info provided. Grocers have been selling and
giving away reusable bags for years now. Why would you pay them to do what they already do??
Do you not have better things that you could be spending your time on? We have been here before with the plastic
bag issue!!!! ENOUGH ALREADY!!! Stop wasting our money on this. We like our plastic bags and plastic straws!!!
Someone there has a plastic umm...well, issue!!!
If the city is concerned about single use plastics, the right move is not to ban them, but to provide an alternative to
stores and shoppers free of charge. This idea, from start to finish is awful.
Please double these comments, as my husband and I discussed the survey and agree. He add that there is a floating
heap of plastic in the ocean the size of the state of Texas. We can't continue our present practices, and yes, change is
painful, but it is necessary.
How about just educating rather than dictating.
This question was already answered when voters repealed the previous bag tax. Please stop. Next time we will be
recalling council members who do not respect the will of the people as well.
I have been very concerned about this issue for a long time. The sooner this can be put into effect the better. I am low
income and I have my own bags which I use the majority of the time. I do forget sometimes, though. I am all for
including any and all single use plastics! I can't state my support strongly enough!
Wish to thank the City Council for its progressive stand on this and other issues while continuing to evaluate how their
actions impact low income people.
This is just another nanny law, expanding government. This is going in the wrong direction.
I feel that this is a long overdue policy. I continue to be surprised how many people leave a grocery store with plastic
bags, when it is so easy to use a reusable bag, which we have been doing for 30 years.
I believe low-income customers should be given reusable bags. It is their responsibility to bring those said bags when
going shopping. If they do not, then they should be fined as everyone else. It is not that difficult to bring and use
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reusable bags. Personal responsibility for the environment is everyone's job. It is truly unfortunate that we need an
ordinance to make people accountable for protecting the environment.
This idea has already been voted down by the people. Are we to assume you know what's better for the people than
the people themselves?
I agree that I would not want a policy like this to affect low-income people, but reusable bags are so inexpensive that
it seems to me, rather than exempting them from the bag fee, a better option would be to give each family on public
assistance a certain number of reusable bags. That way, they would be able to be in compliance with the policy, and
there would not have to be a special exemption for them. In a way, I think giving them a certain number of reusable
bags would allow them to feel less singled out, and more a part of the community of caring people who are trying to
reduce single use items of every kind (plastic bags AND paper bags.)
I commend city council for taking concrete steps towards environment protection!
Plastic bags should have been banned a long time ago.. they breakdown and get into our soil, air and water..and many
of those particles make it to our oceans as well all the way from Colorado. I hope it’s on the ballot and it passes.
If we open our restaurants there will be less use of single use plastics because of less take out orders. Often grocery
store clerks do not optimize the use of each bag, maybe start with educating clerks to use less bags and be more
efficient. Instead of banning bags and charging us if we forget to bring our own bags why don't we focus on positive
enforcement? So if you bring your own bag you get a bag discount? People react better to positive enforcement
instead of negative.
Aren't the cost of the bags already included in each grocery store purchase? Adding an additional charge on the
consumer for using a bag does not solve the problem. Why not focus efforts into solving the problem instead of
punishing the consumer? Fort Collins should look into alternative bag materials. One could argue canvas bags use
more resources to produce; energy, water, harmful dyes, emissions to ship the heavier product... Be different than
Boulder and California. Let's find a better solution instead of taking the easy route.
Really dumb idea. People do not need to be told what bags they can and cannot use. Reusable bags not sanitary
I do not support the ban or fees. In many communities the number of purchased single use bags goes up after a ban
or limit. We should work to further recycle the bags if we are trying to keep them out of the landfill. I will not
support any regulation of them.
How about a ban on selling anything that is in those clamshell plastic boxes that aren't recycleable.
ban the plastics, they are the problem. I disagree with a fee on paper. Just encourage people to use their own bags.
Monitoring and reviewing and penalizing retailers is going to cause division, resentment, and cost a lot of taxpayer
money. Work towards voluntary cooperation without unnecessary spending.
Please do this. Offer discounted packable light weight reusable bags from recycled plastics
It is imperative that a community as fine as FC and Larimer Co adopt and adhere to stringent environmental
restoration and protection policies.
It's time for FC to embrace this proposal
Just do it! Climate change is decimating our air, land & water.
Banning single-use plastics is a WONDERFUL idea! Anyone can bring a bag with them, rich or poor. It's just a matter of
getting used to it. I've been doing it for many years, and it's no problem at all!
I'd also like to see those wasteful and polluting single-use water bottles, plastic clamshells (the kind salads come in),
plastic take-out containers, etc. banned. I'm old enough to remember when takeout came in paper containers. Let it
be so again!
Thank you for pressing this important issue!
I believe that banning plastic and paper bags in grocery stores is essential! It Should be done before 2022!! stop the
use of plastic and paper bags now! The climate requires it!
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I dislike trash like everyone, but I also try to look at things from a practical perspective. Foremost, the single use
plastic bag is dying a natural death in the first place. Many stores, prominently King Soopers, our local Kroger affiliate
has already announced it is phasing out these bags. Others will follow. Other studies have shown paper bags are
arguably nearly equally harmful overall to the environment. From the Coloradoan article: "The city isn't considering
the bag fee as a revenue-driver. Money from bag fees is typically used to cover administrative costs of the program,
including compliance monitoring and providing people with reusable bags." While I am sure a few reusable bags are
given out from programs like this, I am quite certain it is an infinitesimally small number or percent of bags used
overall. This falls in line with the concept that government officials have never met a spending program they did not
like. Creating a program to create a fee or tax to cover the cost of the program for a problem that is vanishing already
makes no sense. The Most annoying of the reasoning for the program is math itself. Also from the article, plastic
trash is 10% of trash overall Within that, 17% of the plastic trash is single use bags. So overall, these bags makeup
1.7% of the trash. The numbers as presented, I am skeptical of, but for this discussion I will use. By 2022 when this
may come into effect, the single use bags will be nearly extinct, so even less by then. I am sure there are other
pollution problems that can be addressed at much lower cost for much more impact and much less divisive after
everything we have all gone through for the last year. I hate trash like everyone else. But I also hate wasting money.
There are good and even great government programs. This would not be one of them.
My only support responses were to be considered if this oppressive ban takes place. This plastic and paper waste
makes up a ridiculously small portion of our waste stream and contributes such a tiny amount to GHG. No thanks
That this is just another way for the city council to look like they care when this is just a money grab.
Finally! Start here and do more, like all retail.
This has been needed for a long time. I am hopeful that the City of Fort Collins can finally get this approved and push
forward where other progressive cities have been for years if not decades. Moving away from plastic bags is an
inconvenience, but it is not hard. Collectively we can do this and do our part to reduce the great plastic invasion of
our cities, neighborhoods, and even our bodies. Thanks to our city council for leading the charge for our community
with this important work.
We are somewhat in support of doing something to limit or reduce the proliferation of disposable plastic bags, but do
not support the reusable cloth bags. If paper bags can be properly recycled, that would be our preference.
Really? Don't like using plastic bags? Don't, bring your own!!
https://www.npr.org/transcripts/721542495 Here is a nine minute NPR story on how a plastic ban is actually worse
for the environment than the alternatives.
Instead of a punitive consequence for businesses not in compliance as the change occurs, is there a way to flip it to a
reward for compliance? What about providing COFC reusable bags to low income families to use?
Major cities have implement similar policies and it works It's 2020 and it is strange that we can't move past single use
plastics, especially plastic bags. I previously lived in a city that implemented a bag tax and plastic ban and it was tough
to remember to bring your own bag for like 2 weeks, and then you just get used to it. Fully support this and ways that
the city can help low-income households or less profitable businesses make the adjustments more smoothly.
I do not support this policy. This policy does not address increased costs for EVERYONE in Fort Collins. I am unaware of
a study that says plastics is a serious issue in Fort Collins. The logic of 'everyone else is doing it' is not a basis for
passing new laws. Lastly, the policies described in this survey clearly indicate a new bureaucracies being created (e.g.
auditing business and studying low income impacts) adding bloat to the city government and diluting resources from
other much needed priorities such as economic recovery from COVID-19.
yes and please do not listen to any excuses as to why any person who can get to a store to buy something, can't bring
their own bag if they need one. period. thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What public outreach and education is planned?
What is recommended in place of the bags previously offered by stores?
hard to do with Covid in play so 2022 is ok
A plastic bag fee would be better than a ban for a variety of reasons, including that studies show it works better,
especially if implemented BEFORE a ban. A more comprehensive program with fees for other items would be best,
and then it would make sense to look at impacts on low-income households. Reusables could be subsidized by the
fees to offset those impacts. FoCo is part of the global issue of a plastic pandemic. We can do more than a bag ban!
Based on the above questions, this policy is all but approved.
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I think it would be ideal if low-income households were provided with reusable bags at no cost as well - to mitigate
cost impacts.
Right now, with covid, customers are discouraged from using their own bags. If a similar situation occurs, when using
bags from stores are required, the fees should not apply.
I'm concerned that enforcement is going to be very difficult, and overtime the policy will diminish... In other Cities I
have lived with fees for plastic bags or bag credits if someone provided a reusable bag - the cashier was not well
trained and did not follow the local requirements. for example $.05 fee or credit doesn't really matter as a part of the
larger grocery bill and so often it was not applied to the order. I would like more details on how enforcement will
ensure compliance and add elements of transparency for shaming those who do not follow suit. before i vote, I'd like
more details on implementation and follow through. also, why not include restaurants? if I could count how many
times i asked for no silverware/cutlery and still received it with my delivery, I'd run out of fingers and toes real fast. if
restaurants are hurting for money as the result of COVID disruptions, why not focus on their own food waste and
wasteful use of disposable cutlery, rather than tax breaks to do more of the same? if this is a BIG Move as a part of
Our Climate Future, I'm not understanding how this is so "BIG" and transformational....?
Support and resources to provide low-income people with reusable bags and other solutions.
reusable bags are for all regardless of income - and not all reusable bags are free of plastic - so push cotton or cotton
blend bags that can be washed and reused many many times - some of my cloth bags are over 15 years old - canvas
lasts!!!
As much as I hate plastic and use reusable bags as much as I can, I think it would make more sense to have a fee for
both plastic and paper. I don't understand why that wasn't an option in this survey. Nor was there a reusable-only
option. The survey basically seems to be assessing how I'm going to vote in April and not what do I really want to see
as a local resident regarding this issue. :-P
Things cost too much the way it is. Way put a burden on us even more. You people are trying to follow in Boulder's
footsteps. We don't make their kind of money. You will just drive good people out on Colorado.
Have non-plastic bags at every register for purchase. Do not use the larger, heavier plastic bags as found in California.
That just exacerbates the issue.
Make it super easy for low income not to have to pay the fee without being embarrassed. Making it super easy may
mean that some (I don't believe many in comparison to the total number of people) that wouldn't qualify take
advantage of this but that's acceptable, in my opinion, in order to easily accommodate low income. We should be
sensitive to low income levels.
I'd like to see expansion of what is recycled. One possibility may be that, instead of duplicating in Fort Collins
something as extensive as CHARM in Boulder, that the City of Fort Collins can work out an arrangement with them
where the items are collected here and trucked to them on a weekly basis or some other type of cooperative effort
with nearby communities. I'm far from knowing the numerous details involved in recycling but I'd like to see us get to
a William McDonough "Cradle to Cradle" approach of every waste item either being a natural waste that is recycled or
a technical waste that is recycled. And much of it starts with the inputs so we try to eliminate as much of both that we
can before it's even generated.
Fort Collins should be a leader in reducing and eventually eliminating pollution from all types of plastics—bags, food
containers, single-use items such as straws and stirrers, and micro plastics. These materials are overwhelming our
planet, and micro plastics are being ingested by people and animals. We do not know the extent of the damage that
these tiny plastic particles are inflicting on living things, but we cannot wait to find out. We need to take strong,
decisive action now.
Bring your own bags or pack it out not sacked. Why do we charge for plastic bags. Just do not have them.
What is the difference in cost between paper & plastic to the stores?
It needs to be all merchants not just grocery stores. Kohls, Jax, Walmart all pass out plastic.
It's hard to people, even though they want to, to get into the habit of taking their alternative bags into the grocery
store every time they shop. This ordinance will nudge them to do this. With this incentive, people will develop this
habit and will feel better about themselves and feel they're helping out, doing their bit as responsible citizens. This
positive aspect of the ordinance should be promoted when it's implemented. Thanks, and good luck.
Banning the plastic bags is a good idea. I had been using my reusable bags until Covid. Another issue is recycling all
the other plastic items with chasing arrows. This should be addressed. Our curbside pickup says certain plestic items
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cannot be recycled. It is confusing as to which can be recycled. It pains me to know these items are ending up in the
landfill.
Our lives and planet will be better off without plastic bags. We got along just fine without them 40 years ago.
I wonder how you will be able to deal with low income persons? Would it not be best to GIVE them reusable grocery
bags? Those last for ages. That would make it easier for the grocers, as they don't have to single out anyone for
different treatment. And, if those people don't use the reusables they will have to pay for the paper bags. That way
everyone has to take the responsibility for their actions.
Wish it wasn’t until 2022. Other localities have already implemented
I don't understand how you would implement the exemption for low-income households. It seems onerous and could
lead to weirdness at the grocery store. Better would be a system to give free re-usable bags to low-income
households, e.g., annually. Also, "a portion" is obviously vague. 1%? 55%? So vague to make it impossible to
gauge/answer the question. (That said, I really appreciate that the city is thinking about this - and I appreciate all of
the work the city has done this year.)
This absolutely needs to be done. I am concerned about the implementation for low-income households and am
curious to hear more about it.
You ban plastic bags and then we have to buy plastic bags from the stores to use for garbage and animal waste. You
are not solving any problem at all..instead you are creating a larger problem by cutting more trees down for the paper
bags. Reusable bags do not wash and last. Common sense is lacking.
This is California negative. They ruined their state and are moving here. Positive: make feed bag carriers for groceries
and retail shopping the proud and desired way to shop. Not only do you need to exempt poor but also seniors who do
not carry heavy loads. Get cooperation from trash companies. Campaign not only irresponsible plastic use but fabric
waste from t-shirts and rugs to showers wasting water because they have only one flow rate. Let's talk. Edith Brown
970-232-9209.
Do not do this. This is kind of ridiculous, considering that just as most people were starting to bring their own bags, we
were told not to due to the pandemic, which seemingly set us back several years as far as voluntary
compliance/bringing your own bag. Now that we are "allowed" to bring our own bag again, I see very few people
doing it. Rather than draconian laws and expensive auditing and enforcement, why don't you run a campaign
reminding people of the benefits and that they CAN bring their own bags, which was banned (for seemingly no reason
as it's since been allowed again).
I would suggest measures to limit waste from other disposable plastics such as take-out food and fast-food
restaurants, in addition to these proposed measures. A large fraction of trash along roadsides consists of fast-food
containers.
I would like to see more policies that encourage resuse in the economy
I also support measures to reduce restaurant/take-out use of single use plastics like bags, plastic containers, drink
containers/lids/straws and plastic silverware. I would love to see the city take action on these sources of plastic waste
as well.
I think it’s a great step. Though I’m sure there will be some resistance it’s a step we do need to take to protect our
environment.
The plastic bins at the recycle center are always full. Suggest they be emptied daily
Find ways to recycle the plastic bsgs
I would like to see the city move faster and go beyond just large grocers more quickly as well. Thank you!
we have to do it eventually, so let's do it now!
Be sure you are able to target our entire community. Those of us answering this questionnaire obviously have access
to this information, but many won't. Please include those most impacted by these proposals, part of making the
solution/policy/enforcement. Thank you
It’s about time! Do it, sooner the better!
Reporting in impacts and litigating penalties may make this more expensive. I think May of 22 is too far away. Can we
phase in? Can we include making plastic utensils and straws on request only? I see no signage about that despite all
the carryout these days. We could do that TODAY!
Citizens are self regulating! No government intervention is needed
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Ban plastic bags, yes. Ban paper bags, no. Do not combine this two issues. They are separate types of materials.
They should be presented to the public as separate issues.
I reuse the plastic bags and recycle my unused newspaper and grocery bags.
Support banning plastic bags, not very clear why the focus on paper bags. Disagree with the differentiation of low
income population. The regulations should cover everyone. Should not be a reason to hire more city staff.
Bring it on! It's overdue.
Some fees could be used to help provide lower income people with reusable bags. The city could also hold an event
where businesses get together to meet new potential customers and network and whatever. But the catch is having
those businesses give away reusable bags. For example, I have several from Comcast.
I'd much rather see a ban on single use plastic and styrofoam food containers for take out along with straws and
plastic cutlery. I think this would have better impact as clamshell and stryrofoam containers cannot be recycled. While
I welcome a cutdown on plastic bags I am concerned about low-income communities.
Plastic carry out bags provided by retailers would seem to comprise a tiny fraction of plastic packaging sold by
retailers. Many of the items that go into those plastic bags are themselves wrapped in plastic. This is unnecessary. Dry
goods can be packaged in biodegradable paper or cellulose. Wet goods can be packaged in glass or metal. These old-
fashioned materials are phased out largely because of consumer aesthetic preferences, but why should we prioritize
that sort of consumer aesthetic preference over environmental considerations?
As former chair of the NRAB I testified before council on 1st & 2nd reading for the plastic bag fee several years ago.
Unfortunately, a small band of activists put pressure on the 2nd reading and the policy was abandoned. I think people
are more aware of the damage plastic does in the environment and the majority are ready to push back on the small
segment that sees this (mistakenly) as a civil liberties issue. I say go for it.
I think this is a great step towards less plastic pollution
Elimination of plastic and paper bags is both simple and vital. Many of us grew up before plastic bags and know that
simply bringing clot bags or other containers is NO PROBLEM once you get used to us. We did it for decades before
plastic!
We also need a ban on other plastic products, such as plastic clamshells used to package bakery items and produce.
We have been led to believe that these items are recyclable when in fact they often are not. This green-washing is
very deceptive and creates consumer confusion.
1) Studies have shown that a plastic bag fee is much more effective than a bag ban, primarily for psychological
reasons. For example: https://econlife.com/2020/02/plastic-bag-bans-and-fees/
2) Paper bags are NOT necessarily a more environmentally friendly alternative to plastic bags and need not be
encouraged as such. This is a complex LCA topic, but here is a good article delving into this-
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-47027792.
3) The key is public education on bag reuse, to reduce environmental impact. Paper bags take much more energy to
make and transport, the key is to reuse a certain number of times to reduce the life cycle impact. This is even more
true of the canvas or other plastic reusable bags - these need to be reused over a hundred times to breakeven
according to some estimates, but people tend to buy far too many of these but keep forgetting them at home and
buying more new reusable bags, which is counterproductive as it leads to more plastic pollution eventually.
Why wait until 2022 Make it May 2021
The community did not support this when it was proposed last time. When reusable bags were banned under the
guise of public safety during the pandemic, it became obvious that this was never about the health of our community
or environment. In addition, more of the community is utilizing grocery delivery and pickup, which is not addressed by
this policy. This “problem” should be solved with education, not bans and fines.
The ban should begin as voluntary on part of providers and consumers. Many shoppers already brought their own
bags to grocery stores before the pandemic. The pandemic required grocery stores to reject customer provided bags
to reduce suspicion of virus transmission. Many customers will return to bringing their own bags once the covid virus
is under control. It's too soon to impose a plastic ban until observation of plastic reduction can be measured after the
pandemic abates. Even May of 2022 may be too early. Businesses should not be monitored for compliance;
businesses have enough to track without adding the cost of monitoring compliance.
I think grocers should supply paper bags and encourage re-use of them.
No. Just no. This was not popular a few years ago and that was just a fee on plastic bags. Now your purposing a ban
and a fee in paper. No.
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Keep it cost neutral, as far as possible
Keep it simple (KISS principle)
Way too aggressive at this time. I would support a fee for plastic bags but no charge for Paper. Why is it the business
fault? why not put the liability on the consumer. it needs to be their responsibility to supply their own bags.
When the old landfill was viewed as closing city began to look at ways to encourage composting and waste reduction.
Once the new landfill site was acquired the composting and waste reduction initiatives disappeared. As the pandemic
rage(s) plastic use is at an all time high with more items being eliminated from the list of recyclables. Can staff take a
look at a long term approach that will not give our merchants any more issues to deal with. The amount of un
recycled material being shipped to homes via “on line shopping “ is enormous compared to grocery bags. Really?
What’s this going to cost to get on a ballot? Please deal with more important social interests and really focus on your
“triple bottom line”. This initiative apply to none of these and you use an ailing river as the reasoning? Really? Also
your demographic question portion of this only continues to enforce our separation as a society, please be the leaders
that work toward bigger goals!
This is a no brainer and if it occurs, customers will be forced to go along with the change.
Could we encourage more stores to offer used cardboard boxes instead of bags? A la Natural Grocer, Mountain
Market (co-op), Esh's.
Seems that exempting certain customers is reasonable but hard to implement well. Not sure how to address this.
I certainly think that paper bags are better than plastic - so glad you are working on this issue - i get so troubled to see
people still requesting their groceries be bagged in plastic. Wondering how stores Or the City can make reusable bags
available at a reasonable cost to get people on board. I appreciate Natural Grocers system - offering cardboard boxes
to those who don't bring their own bags.
Incentivize people to do the thing that's best for our Environment, rather than penalizing individuals for making their
own choices. Give me a $.01 credit every time I shop and use my own bag. Don't charge me anything for not
complying with your rule.
I feel that eliminating single use plastics is an essential part of our future as a city, so am glad to see the work on this
topic. Because it is a complex issue, I hope that additional thought will be put towards other sources of single-use
plastics. E.g. take-out food, local food packaging, etc. I don’t want to see restaurants any harder hit as they recover
form the pandemic, but considering some support and resources for them to source other types of carry-out
containers would be so helpful. Finally, that paper bag “fee” does seem like a bit of a turn off to the proposal in
general, but I understand that the large grocers might “need” that in order to have a better compliance rate?
Thanks for your consideration of this issue and I look forward to seeing additional solutions and ideas from the city.
In all the questions I only see the words "fee" and "penalty". I think you are looking at this wrong. How about an
"incentive" or "enticement" for grocers and consumers to wean themselves away from plastic bags?
I think everyone realizes that we cant just keep producing and throwing away plastic bags my the millions. But
proposing a solution that only has punitive measures is destined to fail. How about a program that "makes it cool"
not to use plastic bags? How about creating an easy "on ramp" and alternative for people of all income levels?
Taking the approach of "Thou shalt not use plastic bags..." is just begging for non-compliance.
Most other communities have already done this. We need to get on board!
I think these proposals are AMAZING and I really hope the City of Fort Collins helps set the example of how to make
our environment a priority!
Any chance it can happen before May 2022?
Re-usable sturdy shopping bags are a simple solution. The fee on plastic bags can be used to subsidize the cost of re-
usable shopping bags, so they are available in all major shops for a low cost, something like 50 cents.
Thank you so much for considering this. And you addressed my only concern about it...the impact it might have on
low-income households.
I do not like but will live with it and abide by it if implemented
Instead of the ban, are there potential incentives that can be offered to people who do NOT use plastic (ie: bring their
own bags)? Essentially using a carrot instead of a stick... I just worry that there might be more push-back to a ban as
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opposed to an incentive program, but an incentive may not get us to where we want to be in terms of plastic waste
diverted.
I think it’s a great idea to get people to get used to using less and using their own bags. We need to keep moving in
this direction.I don’t think it should be based on income, since the cost can be avoided by bringing your own and using
less. Plastic bottles should be next.
A component of the program should be incentivizing or providing reusable bags. Also plastic garbage bags and
baggies should be banned as well.
It's way past time that a plastic ban is put into effect. If it can't be recycled or made of recycled material it should be
banned.
just ban plastic bags. leave the paper bags alone or charge us $0.10 for them. all people can bring a bag or carry what
they buy. we will learn to shop differently.
I think we have been SO Spoiled and thoughtless in our use of plastic. Possibly, a Strong Impact 'consequence' will get
our attention...especially if there is a strong eduation component vs. a dictatorial approach...(even though my
responses were strong, it wasn't to 'dictate' but more to get people's attention while you/we 'educate' at the same
time.
I don't think you can make a correlation on a bag fee & low income persons. I'd rather have the city offer free bags to
those who need them. I'm disappointed about all the plastic being used during covid- hope we can go back to using
our own bags soon.
Ban the plastic bags please! Not all plastic can be or is recycled and its lightweight nature means that on windy days it
can be carried out of trash and recycling bins and into the environment, including our rivers. Single-use plastics, such
as plastic bags, are widely used and easily break down into pieces too small to remove from the environment. This
should stop.
We have already been using our own reusable bags for groceries until Covid came along and will resume it as soon as
possible.
Make reusable bags cheap or free for some people or for some time prior to the implementation of the plastic bag
ban.
Can't happen soon enough!
No waste of time seeing how people of low income are being impacted; if there is consistent complaints then we
should spend the additional resources on studying the impacts but why create a problem before it exists?
They or anyone can bring a plastic trash bag grocery bag or home made fabric bag that they already have from home
or pre plastic bag ban bags and/or there can be a free bag bin where precious customers bring back their paper bags
or old plastic bags OR CUSTOMERS ARE PROVIDED WITH PACKAGING BOXES THAT GROCERY STORES WOULD DISCARD
OTHERWISE (See Esh’s market in Loveland for example)
The fee part is stopping me from supporting this. I normally use my own reusable bags but covid-19 stopped that so
now I am forced to receive plastic bags which I recycle. This fee will be passed along to consumers and any increase
the business has to incur to purchase paper bags People in this town are already struggling. I agree plastic bags are
bad for the environment. But so are plastic containers 1&5 yet I'm still forced to throw those away because they
aren't being accepted anymore for recycling.
This should have been in place years ago.
Invest in expertise around community based social marketing or other science-driven behavior change models as you
plan toward 2022. It will take more than education and regulations to make this successful. I am a a social scientist in
the conservation field for the US Fish and Wildlife Service and would be happy to discuss further or be on a committee
or team to help with this initiative in any way I can. 970-222-3881 Natalie Sexton
Encourage people to buy reusable bags.
Could start sooner. Ask people to make bags to distribute to low income popupus
Important step!
Educate people on the issues vice legislate the issue. When you start to do some reading on the issue it sounds more
like a waste/recycling management issue. I personally have reusable bags that I will bring to the stores, but at the
same time I keep some plastic bags around and reuse them for trash can liners, shipping items for protection, keeping
my car clean when I go play in the mountains and get dirty. Are we going to be selective about banning plastic bags?
There are ziplock bags, trash bags, bread bags, meat separation bags, fruit and vegetable bags. What about other
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single use plastics? Fruit trays, plastic wraps, plasticware, food trays, etc.? The COVID pandemic has shown some the
importance to single use plastics. It seems like more and more as I go into places, the business that are sustainable
oriented and already taking action themselves and those will be the places in the future that succeed as we educate
the community and businesses. Don't implement policy that is hard and costly to enforce and will cost the poor even
more money out of their pockets.
I'm tired of you guys trying to shove this down our throats every year. This has nothing to do with the environment,
this is just a way to raise fees and line your pockets.
I volunteer to pick up trash and the 2 worst things are plastic bags and plastic bottles,
Bags r bad
I have exchanged correspondence with some members of City Council on this already. Please cf. those emails.
Fair for all use paper only with no fees we pay enough for the products
Please also come up with plan for getting rid of these bags at smaller stores as well.
We need a ban!
Plastic bags are a good starting point, but this should move to other containers that don't need to be plastic: drink
bottles and food jars, styrofoam packing material, plastic retail packaging, etc.
Better messaging to make clear that plastic isn't truly recyclable and that users of plastic bags and packaging are being
subsidized by the rest of the society will help.
I came from CA, where they passed the ban on plastic bags at retailers and put a fee on single use plastic bags
beginning in 2014. Over several years people's behaviors changed to where instead of paying a fee for bags, people
bought reusable bags of many types for use in grocery stores and retail. Reusable bags were often used as giveaways
to promote a store brand. There is also the trend for restaurants not to provide foam or plastic take out containers
but use compostable containers instead. It takes some years to wean people off single use bags, but with CO
growing, it will make a big impact here in time.
Very good thoughts of the city council, and hope it works. In Galapagos Islands in Ecuador, a group of conservation
leaders manged to get the towns to stop all use of not just plastic bags, but also all plastic soda bottles and cups and
eliminated all throw away glass bottles forcing all companies to sell beer and soda glass bottles be reused. The only
one they never could do was eliminating plastic water bottles in markets and shops in Galapagos. And of course USA
was the country that created plastic bottles, cans, bags, etc. Western Europe does it much better than USA manages
such trash and much better efficient recycling.
Long overdue. It's time to get rid of single-use plastics!
Currently some stores in town don't even want you bringing your bags in due to the pandemic. Seems like an odd
time for the City to be dreaming up the next way to impact the citizen's lives. Rather than a ban, I would look at a bag
surcharge. I would also like to see more data on total cost/environmental impact of bagging options. Also not clear is
what will happen with the plastic bags for packing vegetables. Am I to find a solution for this as well? I think the City
should spend more effort painting a realistic picture of what they think a sustainable system looks like and the
advantages it confers rather than just given us the next edict of what we can't do.
NO FEES INVOLVED AT ALL
Would have to make reusable bags available for free.
I think the ban on plastic bags could be part of a larger project to reduce plastic consumption. I would also like to see
the city educating the public on proper recycling and reducing our consumption of plastic. For instance many people
do not know what types of plastic are and are not recyclable so they put all plastics and plastic bags in their recycling.
To reduce our consumption of plastic we need business (especially the large ones in our city: Walmart, Target, King
Soopers) to tell manufactures they won't buy their products with obscene amounts of plastic and packaging are
eliminated or far reduced. The ban on plastic bags in a small dent on what we should be doing to curb our plastic
consumption.
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I strongly oppose any initiatives that implement a regressive end-user fee which will disproportionately impact poor
and working class people in our community (to address a problem that is largely not due to their actions). Instead of
putting the burden of reducing plastic pollution on individuals, I instead support system changes that reduce plastic at
the business level. These could include:
- Enacting an “opt-in” versus “opt-out” policy on single-use plastic utensils for restaurant take-out and delivery
- Ending the use of single-use plastics for dine-in restaurants
- Enacting a business-focused single-use plastics ban similar to Palo Alto’s Disposable Foodware Reduction Plan
- Funding further programs to incentivize consumers to bring their own reusable bags to retail stores
- Funding further programs to incentive the use of compostable foodware
Paper bags are essentially environmentally friendly. They can be burned with little impact and also have more re-uses.
People can donate to tree planting causes to offset the limited resource use. Reusable bags are great and I use them,
but I’d rather see plastics not be used than punishing folks who forget their bag.
Fees should not be considered if they are to fall disproportionately on low-income individuals. If anyone is to be
charged, the costs should fall on the businesses and manufacturers most responsible for the pollution (or at least
those that can most afford it). If this isn't possible practically or politically then fees should not be charged.
Please ban plastic bags and make reusable bags available to low income households.
Plastic grocery bags are still useful for many people in lieu of plastic trash bags (trash can liners, pet waste bags). An
out-right ban may not be the best option-- perhaps still allowing use of plastic bags but charging a fee per bag is a
good compromise, along with encouraging/reminding people to use reusable shopping bags.
Absolutely ban plastic bags! However, I am concerned about the potential impact of a paper bag fee on low income
families. If a fee is instituted with an exception for low income families, how will these customers be identified? If it's
whether they receive a form of food assistance, that won't cover families who do not receive food assistance, but still
would be impacted by the bag fee. Also, there should be a program through the grocery stores to get free reusable
bags into the hands of low income families. If the family qualifies to not pay the paper bag fee, they should receive at
least one reusable bag for each shopping trip for the first month after the policy is put in place.
I would also strongly support marketing with explanations for why the climate emergency is such a pressing issue. For
example, reusable bags can be printed with climate change statistics which effect Fort Collins and surrounding areas.
Many climate change deniers will most likely scoff at these measures because they lack education.
I strongly support a ban on single use plastic bags. I do not support charging for paper bags. I would like to see Fort
Collins become a national leader in plastic recovery.
This would be an amazing move for the city.
The ban on plastic bags needs to be put into action as soon as possible. The sooner it is put into action the sooner the
rivers, reservoirs, and other water sources, as well as natural environments, are free of plastic pollution. The ban
needs to also be expanded to include other single-use plastics such as plastic straws, styrofoam, plastic cutlery, plastic
takeout containers, and more.
Personally I too love the convenience of use-n-toss bags — but we just can’t afford this extravagance anymore.
I'd like to know if question 3(c) above implies that there will be requirements (ordinances) for the grocers to do
training, signage and provide reusable bags? Will those requirements also be audited?
Homelessness, hungry children, crime, depression, poverty. And you are focused on plastic bags. Shame on you.
This last point in the survey on "disproportionate impacts of the policy on low-income households" shows you already
have an inkling that this policy is a bad idea. I 100% support plastic pollution mitigation but doing so on the backs of
Fort Collins' working class people is cruel and unfair. A tax on the wealthiest residents will hurt them the least and
could fund all kinds of programs like a cloth bag campaign, stream cleanups, etc. etc. I would also support an "opt in"
versus "opt out" ordinance when it comes to single use plastic utensils at restaurants.
Although I support a ban on plastic bags, I would prefer a fee instead. Fees allow for people to adjust to the change
and think about their impact
There’s a plastic king scoopers bag in a tree outside of our apartment right now 😐😐
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as a low income individual, I don't even know anyone who throws away plastic bags. I, and most people I know, use
them as garbage bags. They come free with my groceries and the thinner plastic actually creates less plastic pollution
than commercial trash bags. they are also better than paper bags due to the increased cost of transportation per bag
and the processes used to create paper. I strongly oppose a plastic bag ban, but I would like to see more incentives
and opportunities to use reusable bags (discounts, free bags, etc). Plastic bags are a very small part of the issue of
pollution. the fact that this survey asks about the impacts of this ban on low-income households means it's being
aknowledged that this has the potential to disproportionately impact low-income groups. We would need to have
measures in place to fix negative impacts while people have to wait for the results of those studies and changes to be
implemented.
I think a phase in policy would be needed to educate and get support from the community. What will replace current
plastic bags for bulk item purchases like loose vegetables in the grocery stores?
Fees at the point of purchase disproportionately impact those who cannot justify the expense of reusable bags,
unfairly target lower-income individuals, and would be seen as an undesirable tax by many consumers. More
equitable and acceptable policies to reduce pollution from single-use products could include:
- Incentives for reusable bags, designed carefully to avoid the costs of such a measure being shifted onto poor and
working-class individuals (environmental impact of reusable bags themselves should be considered before
implementing these)
- Requiring that businesses ask customers before providing single-use products (opt-in), so products are not provided
to customers who do not need or want them
- Restrictions or incentives on the business side that encourage businesses to use alternative bags, containers,
utensils, etc. that reduce pollution
In a sentance, the burden must be on the corporate groccers and not the consumers.
Ban Plastics
I strongly oppose a regressive end-user fee on plastics which will disproportionately impact poor and working class
people in our community (who are largely not responsible for the plastic pollution this initiative aims to address). I
instead support efforts that more equitably aim to address pollution such as the following:
- Enacting an “opt-in” versus “opt-out” policy on single-use plastic utensils for restaurant take-out and delivery
- Ending the use of single-use plastics for dine-in restaurants
- Enacting a business-focused single-use plastics ban similar to Palo Alto’s Disposable Foodware Reduction Plan
- Funding further programs to incentivize consumers to bring their own reusable bags to retail stores
- Funding further programs to incentive the use of compostable foodware
I think this is an awesome first step.
Considering ANY paper bag fee nullifies the entire concept. I fully understand the arguments and STRONGLY disagree
and will refuse any such policy that includes ANY paper bag fees.
I do not support a fee or ban unless the impact on low income people is mitigated.
I am concerned that bag fees and bans disproportionately affect people with low income and any exemption for low
income people would place a stigma on the use of bags which are often necessary for carrying things.
Rather than charge a fee for paper bags or ban plastic, why not make it more inviting to have people bring their own
bags (paper, plastic or store brands)? Encouragement and incentives go much further than punishments and fees.
I strongly oppose a regressive end-user fee on plastics which will disproportionately impact poor and working class
people in our community (who are largely not responsible for the plastic pollution this initiative aims to address). I
instead support efforts that more equitably aim to address pollution such as the following:
Like an “opt-in” versus “opt-out” policy on single-use plastic utensils for restaurant take-out and delivery or a ban on
plastics for dine-in restaurants, asking consumers to bring their own reusable bags to retail stores.
Low-income households should be given reusable bags rather than having to pay for paper bags.
This is misguided virtue signaling and ends up hurting the poorest populations the most.
I am thinking that the proposed policy needs to be divided into two issues; 1. the banning of plastic bags 2. putting a
fee on paper bags #1 is a no brainer. NO PLASTIC BAGS #2 turns into a very complicated and unfair approach to
solving the problem. The burden of the cost should be assumed by the large grocers, those with the ability to bear
the cost. Many large retail stores give credit to shoppers for bringing their own bags. Just as many home sewers
have responded to the need for masks, bags could be created by sewers with donated fabric.
This is a burden on low income people, you dumb asses
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Prefer implementation earlier than May 2022
Now let’s talk about eliminating air pollution from combustion engines.
I greatly appreciate your willingness to tackle this issue! As a wildlife biologist I have seen first hand the impacts
plastics cause for wildlife, natural areas, and our waterways and feel this is long overdue for a community such as ours
that prides itself on caring for the environment. I would like to see this ban extended well beyond grocers to all
businesses in our community - although grocery stores produce the greatest impact in regards to plastic bags, there
are so many other businesses that need to make this change! I would also ask that the City begin to evaluate
alternatives to all plastic bags and incentive programs to switching to compostable, bio-degradable, or other more
environmentally-friendly bags for trash, etc. If there was a place to upload images, I would share a photo I took
yesterday of a waste disposal site in eastern Colorado where they have erected huge chain-link fences around the
dump that was literally covered with plastic bags. Please let me know what I can do to help! I work with hundreds of
college students dedicated to sustainability and would be happy to share information with them. Thank you again for
addressing this important issue!
Sincerely,
Ann Randall
Banning plastic bags is good, but a paper bag tax is regressive and only impacts the most needy. It's possible to make
progress without creating new problems and making existing ones worse.
all for a cleaner environment, not at the expense of the working class or low income peoples! if there is an exemption
for them, it has to be highly accessible, publicised, and in no way a burden to achieve
I do not support regressive measures that charge the consumer. How about a yearly fee charged to any business using
plastic bags or utensils? How about a city wide internal audit of plastic use within the city systems? How about
providing reusable bags to residents using a property tax on large homes? There are many ways to help without laying
more burden on the working class.
Ban bottled water
Hello. I cannot believe we are waiting for 2022. The city should of already had this issue resolved, but I do appreciate
the survey. We cannot continue to turn our heads on the plastic bag issue. Its time to move forward.
Fee for plastic and paper bags
I support banning single-use plastics/plastic bags, but strongly oppose this regressive fee passed on to the customer.
Seriously, fuck off with that. Individuals are not the main polluters and a fee only harms the poor.
Our local DSA chapter has put together the following proposal, which I wholeheartedly support:
- Enacting an “opt-in” versus “opt-out” policy on single-use plastic utensils for restaurant take-out and delivery
- Ending the use of single-use plastics for dine-in restaurants
- Enacting a business-focused single-use plastics ban similar to Palo Alto’s Disposable Foodware Reduction Plan
- Funding further programs to incentivize consumers to bring their own reusable bags to retail stores
- Funding further programs to incentive the use of compostable foodware
I’m glad to see the City taking action on this issue. We need to reduce the use of plastic bags and if shoppers can’t
bring their own reusable bags, they should have to pay. Boulder, Breckenridge, and many other cities in CO have this
policy. It works!
Fort Collins should be a leader in reducing and eventually eliminating pollution from all types of plastics—bags, food
containers, single-use items such as straws and stirrers, and micro plastics. These materials are overwhelming our
planet, and micro plastics are being ingested by people and animals. We do not know the extent of the damage that
these tiny plastic particles are inflicting on living things, but we cannot wait to find out. We need to take strong,
decisive action now.
Very good. I have doubts regarding the bags that they use for dog poop, that the City distributes in the natural areas. What is going to happen with those? Impossible to remove.
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