Bring Your Own Bag and Reusable Containers
February update: Check out the good news about the reduced use of single-use plastic bags in the news feed below.
Important information
The second part of the state’s plastic free law will affect your dining and takeout experience. Updates to this project page can help you save money and show your support for environmentally friendly business practices. Remember that reducing use is the best approach because it avoids the creation of packaging altogether, which means no environmental impacts from manufacturing the packaging.
Skip the plastic stuff
Ask the business to let you use your own rContinue reading
February update: Check out the good news about the reduced use of single-use plastic bags in the news feed below.
Important information
The second part of the state’s plastic free law will affect your dining and takeout experience. Updates to this project page can help you save money and show your support for environmentally friendly business practices. Remember that reducing use is the best approach because it avoids the creation of packaging altogether, which means no environmental impacts from manufacturing the packaging.
Skip the plastic stuff
Ask the business to let you use your own reusable containers for takeout or leftovers after dining.
Say "no thanks" to single-use items with your takeout order, or request only the items you need and skip the rest.
Bring your own carryout bags. Lakewood has a limited supply of free carryout bags you can pick up at the City Clerk’s Office, 480 S. Allison Parkway.
Use of reusable containers are healthier for food storage and reheating.
Help your favorite restaurant lower their costs.
Protect the environment because reusable containers are eco-friendly.
- Reusable utensils can help you save money. There are many stylish options to carry reusable utensils in a compact case. Many cases contain a fork, knife, spoon, straw, and chopsticks, so you are ready for any meal that you packed or purchased.
Reusable utensils lower the costs for your favorite restaurant.
Reusable utensils are more durable. Everyone has experienced a plastic fork breaking or the plastic knife not cutting.
Reusable utensils are easier on the environment.
Bring your own reusable bag
Plastic bags are now banned. Save money on plastic by skipping the 10 cent fee for a paper bags.
Reusable bags are durable and don’t break as easily. Lakewood has a limited supply of free carryout bags you can pick up at the City Clerk’s Office, 480 S. Allison Parkway.
Reusable bags help keep plastic bags out of the environment, which is good for streams, lakes, oceans, wildlife and the Earth.
Residents can ask questions here
If you are a resident, ask a question here about the bag fee and what you'll experience as a customer. City staff will respond within three business days. Questions and answers about this project will be visible to the public.
If you are a business owner with questions, please visit the online resource center for businesses.
For complaints about this issue or concerns regarding other city topics, please visit Lakewood.org/RequestLakewood, which is the city's online customer service hub available online 24 hours a day.
-
Share Will there be the new bags at Earth Day? on Facebook Share Will there be the new bags at Earth Day? on Twitter Share Will there be the new bags at Earth Day? on Linkedin Email Will there be the new bags at Earth Day? link
Will there be the new bags at Earth Day?
Billi asked over 1 year agoYes, we will have bags available, and they will either be the current bag we've distributed that has the BYOB logo on it or the new bags with the bag design winner on them. We are awaiting the arrival of our order with the bag design winner on them, and if they don't arrive in time for the Earth Day Celebration, we'll have the BYOB bags. The bags with winning design will also be distributed at other city festival later in the year.
-
Share ok - went to lakewood.org/freebags - looking not finding - WHERE I GET MY FREE BAGS??????? and are they of sufficient quality to be worth the effort to track them down on Facebook Share ok - went to lakewood.org/freebags - looking not finding - WHERE I GET MY FREE BAGS??????? and are they of sufficient quality to be worth the effort to track them down on Twitter Share ok - went to lakewood.org/freebags - looking not finding - WHERE I GET MY FREE BAGS??????? and are they of sufficient quality to be worth the effort to track them down on Linkedin Email ok - went to lakewood.org/freebags - looking not finding - WHERE I GET MY FREE BAGS??????? and are they of sufficient quality to be worth the effort to track them down link
ok - went to lakewood.org/freebags - looking not finding - WHERE I GET MY FREE BAGS??????? and are they of sufficient quality to be worth the effort to track them down
phroggy asked almost 2 years agoI'm sorry you've had difficulty finding one of our distribution points. The best place to pick up bags is at the City Clerk's Office, 480 S. Allison Parkway, in Lakewood's Civic Center, and this information was available on the website at this link: https://www.lakewoodtogether.org/freebags/news_feed/updates-resources
Resident can pick up two bags at this location while supplies last.
-
Share You said you had a plan to make reusable bags using T-shirt on this web page. I can't find it. on Facebook Share You said you had a plan to make reusable bags using T-shirt on this web page. I can't find it. on Twitter Share You said you had a plan to make reusable bags using T-shirt on this web page. I can't find it. on Linkedin Email You said you had a plan to make reusable bags using T-shirt on this web page. I can't find it. link
You said you had a plan to make reusable bags using T-shirt on this web page. I can't find it.
Betty asked almost 2 years agoBetty -- Sorry you had trouble finding this. Here is the link for the video: https://www.lakewoodtogether.org/freebags/widgets/57652/videos/4086 from the video block in the upper right corner of this website. It's the second video, so you have to click on "more" to see the additional video. Let me know if you have any more trouble with this.
-- Stacie
-
Share Where can you recycle the old store plastic bags? on Facebook Share Where can you recycle the old store plastic bags? on Twitter Share Where can you recycle the old store plastic bags? on Linkedin Email Where can you recycle the old store plastic bags? link
Where can you recycle the old store plastic bags?
RJP asked almost 2 years agoPlastic carryout bags can be recycled at King Soopers grocery stores. There's a barrel typically near a store's entrance or by the checkout stands for the bags to be recycled. Other grocery chains might also have barrels available for dropping these plastic bags off for recycling.
-
Share Why would you send me to the sign up form via the Looking at Lakewood paper that arrived today, only to find the form no longer valid? Frustrating! on Facebook Share Why would you send me to the sign up form via the Looking at Lakewood paper that arrived today, only to find the form no longer valid? Frustrating! on Twitter Share Why would you send me to the sign up form via the Looking at Lakewood paper that arrived today, only to find the form no longer valid? Frustrating! on Linkedin Email Why would you send me to the sign up form via the Looking at Lakewood paper that arrived today, only to find the form no longer valid? Frustrating! link
Why would you send me to the sign up form via the Looking at Lakewood paper that arrived today, only to find the form no longer valid? Frustrating!
Linda Mitchell asked almost 2 years agoLinda -- You are absolutely right, and the reason the sign up form closed is because the bags are here and available for pick up. I didn't update the website with the pick-up information before closing the sign-up form, so I apologize for that. Please feel free to pick up a bag at the City Clerk's Office at the Civic Center (see newsfeed). There is a small supply of bags at the city's recreation centers as well.
-- Stacie
-
Share We were recently at Ranch 40 West and were charged .35 for a take out box. Is this part of the bag program? Thank you. on Facebook Share We were recently at Ranch 40 West and were charged .35 for a take out box. Is this part of the bag program? Thank you. on Twitter Share We were recently at Ranch 40 West and were charged .35 for a take out box. Is this part of the bag program? Thank you. on Linkedin Email We were recently at Ranch 40 West and were charged .35 for a take out box. Is this part of the bag program? Thank you. link
We were recently at Ranch 40 West and were charged .35 for a take out box. Is this part of the bag program? Thank you.
Cmlad asked almost 2 years agoThat doesn't sound right, but I would recommend using our online form to report this issue. Our Finance Department will then contact the business to provide guidance on complying with the new state law.
-- Stacie
-
Share This is more a request of your consideration of these issues than an outright question: if your free bags will be made of cotton, I suggest that you provide some tips on their use, care, and recycling, such as not putting meats in the same bag as other items, and laundry instructions to get rid of the bacteria that can inhabit cloth bags. And, many of these bags will need to be recycled due to shrinkage, holes, and ripped handles. You would be doing Lakewood residents and the landfills a big service by either providing a free textile recycling service or referring bag owners to an existing free textile recycling service when their bag becomes unusable. Perhaps a brief tip sheet with all of this information could be provided with each bag. on Facebook Share This is more a request of your consideration of these issues than an outright question: if your free bags will be made of cotton, I suggest that you provide some tips on their use, care, and recycling, such as not putting meats in the same bag as other items, and laundry instructions to get rid of the bacteria that can inhabit cloth bags. And, many of these bags will need to be recycled due to shrinkage, holes, and ripped handles. You would be doing Lakewood residents and the landfills a big service by either providing a free textile recycling service or referring bag owners to an existing free textile recycling service when their bag becomes unusable. Perhaps a brief tip sheet with all of this information could be provided with each bag. on Twitter Share This is more a request of your consideration of these issues than an outright question: if your free bags will be made of cotton, I suggest that you provide some tips on their use, care, and recycling, such as not putting meats in the same bag as other items, and laundry instructions to get rid of the bacteria that can inhabit cloth bags. And, many of these bags will need to be recycled due to shrinkage, holes, and ripped handles. You would be doing Lakewood residents and the landfills a big service by either providing a free textile recycling service or referring bag owners to an existing free textile recycling service when their bag becomes unusable. Perhaps a brief tip sheet with all of this information could be provided with each bag. on Linkedin Email This is more a request of your consideration of these issues than an outright question: if your free bags will be made of cotton, I suggest that you provide some tips on their use, care, and recycling, such as not putting meats in the same bag as other items, and laundry instructions to get rid of the bacteria that can inhabit cloth bags. And, many of these bags will need to be recycled due to shrinkage, holes, and ripped handles. You would be doing Lakewood residents and the landfills a big service by either providing a free textile recycling service or referring bag owners to an existing free textile recycling service when their bag becomes unusable. Perhaps a brief tip sheet with all of this information could be provided with each bag. link
This is more a request of your consideration of these issues than an outright question: if your free bags will be made of cotton, I suggest that you provide some tips on their use, care, and recycling, such as not putting meats in the same bag as other items, and laundry instructions to get rid of the bacteria that can inhabit cloth bags. And, many of these bags will need to be recycled due to shrinkage, holes, and ripped handles. You would be doing Lakewood residents and the landfills a big service by either providing a free textile recycling service or referring bag owners to an existing free textile recycling service when their bag becomes unusable. Perhaps a brief tip sheet with all of this information could be provided with each bag.
80228 asked almost 2 years agoYes, thanks for the information. I planned on adding bag care information in the coming weeks.
-- Stacie
Helpful videos
-
Click here to play video
Turn T-shirt into a reusable bag
Watch this video to learn how to make a reusable carryout shopping bag from an old T-shirt.
Useful resources on this site
In an effort to cut down on the millions of carryout bags and plastic containers used each year, Colorado's plastic free law has a new phase going into in effect on Jan. 1, 2024. It requires businesses to charge you a 10 cent fee to take your purchases in a single-use paper carryout bag. Single-use plastic carryout bags are now banned. Polystyrene food containers are also banned.
Lakewood is here to help you save your cents. Use the resources on this page to make the transition to reusable bags:
- Watch video on how to make a reusable bag from an old T-shirt.
- Learn about cleaning reusable bags.
- Find out about the state law and watch a video.
- See answers to frequently asked questions.
- Find easy ways to create a "bag plan" for bringing a reusable bag to shop and learn how to skip the plastic stuff at restaurants.
Why it matters
Bringing a reusable bag to shop and skipping the plastic stuff at restaurants is good for everyone. You can protect the beauty of your community, with no more plastic bags, eating utensils and food containers blowing in the wind or snaring wildlife.
Reusable bags and reusable items for dining really are the future. Let's bring it, Lakewood!
Who's Listening
-
Public information manager
SO
Thank you for your contribution!
Help us reach out to more people in the community
Share this with family and friends