What businesses must follow the single-use bag fee?

• Grocery stores and supermarkets
• Convenience stores
• Liquor stores
• Retailers
• Other stores that provide plastic bags
• Including any self-checkout and delivery services

Are there any exemptions to the bag fee?

• Smaller stores with three or fewer locations in Colorado
• Restaurants

What is a single-use bag?

A single-use bag means a bag that is not reusable and is destined for our local landfill or recycling process. The bag fee and ban are only on single-use plastic and paper bags distributed to customers at the point of sale. This does not include reusable bags that may be provided by the store or any bag brought in by the customer to be used.

Single-use bag does not include:

• Bags used by consumers inside stores to:
  • Package bulk items, such as fruit, vegetables, nuts, grains, candy, or small hardware items
  • Contain or wrap frozen foods, meat, or fish
  • Contain or wrap flowers, potted plants, or other items where dampness may be a problem
  • Contain unwrapped prepared foods or bakery goods
• A non-handled bag used to protect a purchased item from damaging or contaminating other purchased items when placed in a recyclable paper bag or reusable bag
• Bags provided by pharmacists to contain prescription drugs
• Newspaper bags, door-hanger bags, laundry-dry cleaning bags, or bags sold in packages containing multiple bags for uses such as food storage, garbage, pet waste, or yard waste bags

When does the single-use bag fee take effect?

The statewide single-use bag fee takes effect on January 1, 2023.

How much is the bag fee?

The fee is ten cents ($0.10) per plastic or paper bag.

What businesses must follow the plastic bag and Styrofoam ban starting on January 1, 2024?

• All of the businesses that must follow the single-use bag fee
• Including any self-checkout and delivery services
• Restaurants

Must stores charge all customers the bag fee?

Stores must charge the single-use bag fee to their customers at the point of sale, except those who provide proof of participation in a federal or state food assistance program such as SNAP or EBT.

How can I avoid the bag fee?

Customers can avoid paying the 10-cent bag fee by using their own bag that they bring with them to the store. Some stores offer reusable bags for purchase, or even offer reusable bag credits so you could save while you shop with your own bag! Customers can also choose not to bag their purchases.

Will I be charged if I bring my own plastic or paper bag?

No. The single-use bag fee will not apply to bags you bring to a store for reuse, including plastic and paper bags you already have and want to reuse.

Does the fee apply to bags used for delivery orders or self-checkout?

Yes. The bag fee must be applied to each single-use bag provided at self-checkout or delivery orders from stores required to charge a bag fee.

Does my business need to charge a single-use bag fee?

The below businesses must pass the single-use bag fee to their customers based on each paper or plastic bag used at check out:

• Grocery stores and supermarkets
• Convenience stores
• Liquor stores
• Retailers
• Other stores that provide plastic bags
• Including any self-checkout and delivery services

Are there any exemptions to the bag fee?

• Smaller stores with three or fewer locations in Colorado
• Restaurants

How do businesses comply with the bag fee?

Per a Colorado law passed in 2021, stores with more than 3 locations in Colorado are required to charge customers a $0.10 single-use bag fee for each single-use plastic and paper bag provided at the point of sale starting on January 1, 2023. Impacted businesses were required to begin collecting the fee on January 1, 2023. Of this fee, $0.04 may be retained by business to assist with the administration of the fee. The remaining $0.06 of the fee must be remitted to the City of Englewood on a quarterly basis. 

A Bag Fee return will be added as a quarterly task on your Englewood MUNIRevs Business Center account. Access MUNIRevs Here

The 1st Quarter 2023 Bag Fee Return will be added to your Business Center in early June 2023, with a due date of July 20, 2023. Quarterly returns will be added as a task to your account at the end of each subsequent calendar quarter. Please note: The 2nd Quarter 2023 return will also have a due date of July 20, 2023, and will be added to your Business Center on July 1, 2023. All subsequent quarterly bag fee returns will be added after completion of the quarter and will be due on the 20th of the month following completion of the quarter. 

Please reach out with any questions at revenuediv@englewoodco.gov. 

What will the fee money be used for?

Businesses keep four cents of the fee in order to cover their costs complying with the State law, administration, training employees, etc.

The remaining six cents is remitted to the City of Englewood for the uses below:

• Administrative or enforcement costs associated with developing and implementing the fee
• Educating residents, businesses, and visitors about the impacts of disposable bags
• Other waste reduction, recycling, composting, or waste diversion programs

Note: The single-use bag fee is a fee, not a tax and therefore all proceeds collected in accordance with this State law can only be used for the purposes listed above and cannot be used for general government expenses.

How is the fee monitored?

A store must record on a customer’s receipt the number of single-use bags and the total amount of fees charged for each bag. The bag fee is not subject to City of Englewood or State Sales Tax.