Starting January 1, consumers in Mountain Village can say goodbye to single-use plastic bags and Styrofoam takeout food containers. 

The Mountain Village Town Council approved the ordinance in June, which built off the Town's 2019 resolution aimed to drastically reduce single-use plastics. The town has a zero-waste goal they are trying to achieve, and by banning single-use plastic bags, polystyrene takeout food containers and implementing a bag fee of 20 cents, they are moving several steps closer. While plastic bags are banned, retailers must charge the disposable bag fee for 100-percent recycled content and recyclable bags, which is similar to the Town of Telluride's bag fee.

The ordinance applies to any person or business that sells or provides merchandise, goods or materials directly to a customer, including grocery stores, liquor stores, pharmacies, restaurants, food trucks, and any other retail or apparel stores. The Town of Mountain Village will work with its merchants to help set them up as the new ordinance goes into effect. If you need assistance from the town, click here to contact Lauren Kirn, the Environmental Efficiencies and Grant Coordinator. 

“We are excited for this next chapter in Mountain Village’s pursuit of zero waste living,” Kirn told the Daily Planet. “Plastic bags and polystyrene takeout food containers are low-hanging fruit that we are excited to eliminate from the Town’s waste stream.”

Over 91 percent of plastic isn't recycled, and that same plastic takes more than 400 years to degrade. 

To learn more about the Mountain Village's plastic reduction iniative, click here.