Reducing Single-Use Plastics in Boulder

Single-use plastics contribute to waste and can be difficult to manage once they are thrown away. But their impacts extend beyond litter: research increasingly links microplastic exposure to potential health concerns. As a community that has long taken action to reduce waste and protect environmental and public health, Boulder can explore new approaches to reduce single-use plastics and prevent them from entering our waste stream in the first place.

In 2021, Colorado passed the Plastic Pollution Reduction Act (PPRA), establishing statewide requirements for certain single-use plastic products and expanded polystyrene (Styrofoam®). As of July 1, 2024, Colorado law allows local governments to adopt additional or more stringent policies to reduce plastic waste. This allows Boulder to explore local approaches to reducing single-use plastics in our community.

Plastics, Policies and Play: An all-ages event to shape Boulder’s approach to single-use plastics

Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026
5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Junkyard Social, 2525 Frontier Ave, Boulder, CO 80301

The event will include:

• All-ages trivia (and prizes!) about why reducing single-use plastics matters
• A presentation from city staff about potential policies to reduce disposable items in food service
• Small-group activities to share your ideas, concerns and experiences
• Time to connect with other community members and learn from each other

Kids and families are welcome. Light refreshments served.

RSVPs are encouraged, especially for those seeking accommodations or interpretation

Your voice can help shape Boulder’s approach to reducing plastic waste. We hope you’ll join us.

This isn’t Boulder’s first effort to better understand plastic use in our community.

For the past two years, the city has hosted the Boulder Plastic Count, a weeklong community challenge that invited participants to track their personal plastic use. The annual count helps build awareness about how much plastic we use in our everyday lives while generating community-level data and insights that can help inform the city’s waste reduction efforts.

Now, as we begin exploring future policies, we’re building on that work by asking community members to share their experiences, concerns and ideas