City of Boulder Invites Community Members To Participate in Its First Plastic Count This July

The City of Boulder is inviting community members to participate in the first-ever Boulder Plastic Count, a weeklong challenge to track personal plastic use and contribute to building a clearer picture of the community’s plastic footprint.

Community members can sign up online to join the count. During the official tracking week, July 21 to 27, community members are encouraged to record every piece of plastic they use and dispose of, whether it’s recycled, reused or thrown away. At the end of the week, results can be submitted through an online form. Participants will also receive resources and tips to reduce plastic use and explore local waste-reduction efforts. Those who submit their completed forms at the end of the month will be entered into a random drawing for a gift card, while supplies last.

“If we want to reduce plastic waste we need to understand it first. Every piece of data we collect during this count matters,” said Jamie Harkins, Sustainability Senior Manager for the City of Boulder. “This is an opportunity for the community to come together, take a closer look at our daily plastic consumption and decrease the amount of plastic that passes through Boulder.”

City leaders emphasize that the Boulder Plastic Count is not about guilt or perfection. Instead, it’s about growing awareness and using collective insight to guide smarter, more effective change.

The count is set to take place during Plastic Free July, a global movement that empowers millions of people to reduce single-use plastics and be a part of the solution to plastic pollution. By participating in the Boulder Plastic Count, community members can take meaningful local action in support of this international campaign, starting with awareness and leading to long-term impact.

The information gathered during the count will help the city better understand local plastic use, identify priority areas for policy change and support Boulder’s broader climate and sustainability goals. Results will be shared publicly later this year.

Sign-ups for the Boulder Plastic Count are now open, visit our website to learn more. Together, we can build a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable Boulder.

Learn more about the city’s sustainability work and Climate Initiatives Department.