Bring Your Own Bag and Reusable Containers

Colorado used nearly 2 billion fewer plastic grocery bags last year, thanks to the Plastic Pollution Reduction Act. This information comes from Eco-cycle, one of the nation’s oldest and largest nonprofit recyclers based in Boulder. Check out these two news stories about this reducation:

• 9news
• Denver7

It’s time to skip the stuff – all those plastic forks, knives and foam containers for takeout or leftover restaurant food. Phase 2 of the state’s plastic free law is in effect starting Jan. 1, 2024, and it bans foam polystyrene (often referred to as Styrofoam®) takeout containers and cups for ready-to-eat foods. It also bans single-use plastic carryout bags. Please use the resources on this page to learn more and to make the transition to a plastic free approach.

Plastics are forever. According to a July 19, 2017 article in Science Advances, 79 percent of the 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic that humans have produced so far are still around polluting oceans and rivers, littering the landscape and piling up in landfills. It's time to make a change.

If you've missed our city festivals so far this year where we have been distributing free carryout bags, you can now pick up one at city recreation centers, the Clements Community Center or the City Clerk's Office.

These free bags have the winning photo of William F. Hayden Park on Green Mountain taken by a Lakewood resident, and they are made from 80 percent recycled bottles. We have been distributing these bags at city events and festivals, but this has gone slower than expected because several of the events have been affected by the rains earlier this year.

We distributed more than 1,000 bags during the city's Earth Day Celebration this last weekend, and we'll continue to distribute these bags at several other city events and festivals(External link) this year, with the next event in June at the Rockin' Block Party(External link). These bags are made from 80 percent recycled plastic bottles, and we think the image really promotes a sense of pride in the wonderful parks and open spaces available in Lakewood.

• If you are still interested in receiving the first bag we distributed earlier this year with the BYOB logo on it, you can pick up one of those while supplies last at the City Clerk's Office(External link) at 480 S. Allison Parkway.

We have exciting news! The carryout bags with the winning submission for our design contest will be distributed starting this week at the city's Earth Day Celebration.

We'll continue to distribute these bags at several other city events and festivals this spring and summer. These bags are made from 80 percent recycled plastic bottles, and we think the image really promotes a sense of pride in the wonderful parks and open spaces available in Lakewood.

We had nearly 20 entries for our bag design contest, and we picked the above photograph, taken from the summit of Lakewood's William F. Hayden Park on Green Mountain because it's a great picture. We also thought it would inspire residents to do all they can to take care of the beauty that's in their city. Those in the sustainability field have found that residents are much more motivated by protecting their beautiful local amenities than by slogans.

Lakewood resident Jeremy Fleming submitted this photo, and we are working to have it printed on a second round of reusable carryout bags, which we will distribute at the city's festivals during the spring and summer.

Thanks for all your thoughtful submissions!

We have several updates for you. Check them out:

• Information on cleaning your reusable bags.
• Keep forgetting your bags in the back seat of the car? "Got bags" rearview mirror reminder available at the City Clerk's Office.
• Reusable bags still available at the Civic Center in City Clerk's Office, 480 S. Allison Parkway.

In an effort to provide reusable bags to underserved communities and those in need, we are delivering bags to local food banks. Jeffco Eats put them to use right away by filling them up with food for delivery to schools. Jeffco Eats helps kids and families eat by providing food over the weekends to ensure that no child goes hungry in Jeffco Public Schools known as Title 1 schools, which are those with a high number of students in need.

You can now pick up free carryout bags while supplies last, with the limit of two bags per household, at the City Clerk's Office, 480 S. Allison Parkway, first floor.

If you miss out on this round of bags, there will be additional free bags available later this year at the city's festival and events.

FEB. 6 UPDATE: The design contest is now closed, and we'll let you know who the winner, so stay tuned.

Dec. 30, 2022 -- Get your creative juices flowing! Design the image, logo or slogan that you think will help residents bring their reusable carryout bags for shopping. We'd love to have kids participate, so get your children's colored pencils and drawing paper out!

The winning design will be printed on bags that will given away at the city's annual Earth Day Celebration in April as well as at later events in the year. There's no prize money involved, but you'll have the pride of producing what your fellow residents will see when they shop, and you'll help them skip bag fees to save their cents.