Frisco Town Government: Frisco, Colorado
Single Use Bag Ban and Fee
Single-Use Bag Fee
In August 2019, a .25 per bag fee ordinance on both paper and plastic disposable bags was passed by the Frisco Town Council, recognizing that the use of all disposable shopping bags, both plastic and paper, has significant environmental impacts on a local and global scale, including impacts greenhouse gas emissions, litter, harm to wildlife, water consumption and solid waste generation. Despite recycling and voluntary efforts to control pollution from disposable bags, relatively few disposable bags are recycled. Plastic bags last for decades in landfill, or end up as litter.
The disposable bag fee program began January 1, 2020, and was suspended on March 31, 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions. On Tuesday, July 28, 2020, Town Council decided to let the suspension expire, as the community is no longer under a local State of Emergency and Council has found no evidence that bringing reusable bags increases the likelihood of spreading COVID-19.
Plastic Bag Phase-Out and Single-Use Bag Fee – Effective September 1, 2021
On January 26, 2021, Council passed, Ordinance 21-01, which will ban disposable plastic bags and paper bags with less than 40 percent post-consumer recycled material, and continue a single-use bag fee of $.25 for paper bags only, which contain more than 40 percent post-consumer recycled material. Restaurants will now be included in this program, which is a departure from the original bag fee program passed in 2019, but will still be exempt from charging and remitting the $0.25 bag fee.
In spite of the bag fee program, implemented January 1, 2020, to discourage the use of disposable bags and reduce waste, many disposable single-use bags are still being used and end up in landfills, litter the environment, use precious resources, impede drainage systems, and impact wildlife.
A ban on single-use plastic bags and paper bags with less than 40 percent post-consumer recycled material will address environmental concerns, while still allowing businesses to offer their customers single-use paper bags with over 40 percent post-consumer recycled material that are recyclable and more biodegradable than plastic bags. To stay consistent with the Towns of Breckenridge and Dillon and to allow businesses to plan for this change and to use current bag inventories, the new ordinance will not go into effect until September 1, 2021.
Key Takeaways
- The new ordinance will only allow for distribution of paper bags made from at least 40% post-consumer recycled materials.
- The new ordinance now includes restaurants in restricting single-use bag distribution to paper bags made with 40% post-consumer recycled materials.
- In the new ordinance, although a restaurant may only issue recycled paper bags for takeout, restaurants are not required to collect and remit the $.25 fee.
Remitting Bag Fees
Please complete the appropriate remittance worksheet below:
Fees should be remitted on a quarterly basis. The following methods are available for remittance:
- Online payment – preferred method: To take advantage of convenient paperless payment through Xpress Bill Pay, please notify the Finance Department to link the bag fee return to an existing account. Contact: Sole Drumwright via email or by calling 970-668-9127 to set up Xpress Bill Pay for bag fees.
- Mail check to: Town of Frisco Finance Department, Attn: Bag Fee, PO Box 4100, Frisco, CO 80443. Effective January 2023, if paying by check, please be sure to add the additional $5 paper filing fee to your total bag fees per paper filing fee ordinance 22-07.
- Drop off in person: Visit Frisco Town Hall at 1 West Main Street, Frisco, CO 80443. Effective January 2023, if paying by check, please be sure to add the additional $5 paper filing fee to your total bag fees per paper filing fee ordinance 22-07.