MOSCOW (MRC) -- Colorado lawmakers this week voted to join the growing list of states that ban plastic bags and polystyrene carryout containers at stores and restaurants, said CPR.
It will take a couple of years before Colorado’s ban takes effect, however, and the measure comes with a major exemption that interferes with the original intentions of legislators.
The ban was part of a yearslong attempt by Colorado Democrats and environmental activists to reduce the state’s reliance on and consumption of plastic. A bill introduced in the House in February received its final approval from the legislature Tuesday and needs only Gov. Jared Polis’ signature to become law.
Under the new bill, the state will charge customers 10 cents per paper or plastic bag used at most grocery stores, retailers and restaurants starting in 2023, according to the bill. The ban on single-use plastic bags and polystyrene containers often used for takeout food will begin in 2024.
Sixty percent of the bag fee will go to local jurisdictions for recycling or composting programs and related administrative costs, and the rest is for the businesses. People enrolled in a state or federal food assistance program do not have to pay the bag fee.
Once the ban is in effect, paper bags will still cost 10 cents, an additional effort by legislators to encourage customers to bring their own reusable bags.The US state of Colorado has passed a bill banning the single-use of plastic bags and expanded polystyrene (EPS) used for takeout food containers.
The bill outlines different timelines for the eventual phasing out of plastic. The EPS ban would begin in 2024.
Meanwhile, businesses will be able to provide customers with a single-use plastic bag or recycling paper bag for a 10-cent fee starting 1 September and ending 1 September 2022. After that, the store may only furnish a recycled paper bag at a 10-cent fee.
The Colorado bill comes after the state of Washington passed a bill last month that banned expanded polystyrene products and established a minimum recycled content for plastic bottles, jugs, and personal care products.
Many other states have enacted legislation surrounding curbing the use of plastic and enhancing recycling infrastructure. In May, Arkansas became the 13th state to enact recycling legislation, enabling greater adoption of chemical recycling. Florida, Wisconsin, Georgia, Iowa, Tennessee, Texas, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Oklahoma, and Arizona have passed similar legislation to promote advanced recycling.
As per ICIS-MRC Price Report, prices of Russian EPS remained at the previous week's level. Prices of SIBUR-Khimprom's spot EPS quantities were at Rb167,000-175,000/tonne CPT Moscow, including VAT. Plastik, Uzlovaya shipped material at Rb178,000-180,000/tonne CPT Moscow, including VAT, depending on the grade.
MRC