Fort Collins' plastic bag ban takes effect May 1. Here's what to know.

It's almost time for Fort Collins grocery stores to ditch plastic bags.

The city's plastic bag ban takes effect at large grocers come Sunday, May 1. On the same day, grocery stores in city limits will start charging 10 cents for paper bags. The new policy is the result of a 2021 voter-approved ballot measure.

Here are answers to frequently asked questions about the bag ban.

Which stores are included in Fort Collins' plastic bag ban?

The plastic bag ban applies to 19 grocery stores in Fort Collins, including all Walmart, Target, King Soopers, Safeway and Sprouts locations, as well as Lucky's Market, Trader Joe's and Whole Foods. Grocers impacted by the ban are at least 10,000 square feet in size and sell at least four of the following food types: staple foods, meat, produce, dairy, frozen food or other perishable items for human consumption.

What types of plastic bags are included in the ban?

The plastic bag ban applies only to single-use, point-of-sale plastic bags — the kind used to bag your groceries. It doesn't apply to trash bags or bags for bulk items, produce or medicine.

Who's exempted from the paper bag fee?

Anyone who participates in a local, state or federal income-qualified government assistance program. That includes the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the special supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid program), among others. To prove eligibility, you'll need to show your benefits card or, if you're using local income-qualified programs, you can show the cashier the Get:FoCo app on your phone.

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Who gets the money from the paper bag fee?

The city is splitting the fee with grocers 60/40, with the larger share going to the city. The 6 cents per bag is meant to cover the cost of program implementation for the city, including consumer education and distribution of free reusable bags. The program is meant to be revenue neutral for the city, creating neither profit nor uncovered expense. The grocers are expected to spend their 4-cent share on signage, employee training and promotion of reusable bags.

Why is the city doing this?

Fort Collins City Council put the bag ban measure on the 2021 ballot in an effort to reduce plastic pollution and help the city achieve its goal of zero waste by 2030. Plastic bags make up a small portion of the waste stream, but the city can't reach zero waste without addressing every piece of the pie. Council members who supported the ballot measure were also concerned about microplastics pollution and plastic bag littering.

About 60% of Fort Collins voters approved the ban.

How will this work for grocery delivery and curbside pickup?

Each store is responsible for its own approach here, but most stores will likely use paper bags and charge the fee unless the customer is in an exempt group.

What about self-checkout?

Shoppers can bring their own bags or use paper bags. If you use paper, the system will prompt you to input how many bags you used for your order, and the fee will appear on your receipt. If you're exempted from the paper bag fee, you won't have to pay it at checkout if you show proof that you receive income-qualified assistance.

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What should I use for dog poop, cat litter, wastebasket liners and the like?

Fort Collins senior sustainability specialist Holly Pummell suggested getting creative. You could reuse other bags or packaging from around the house, reuse paper bags or put pet waste in with your household garbage right before taking out the trash.

You could also buy small plastic bags for pet waste or trash-can liners, some of which are branded as biodegradable.

Where can I get inexpensive or free reusable shopping bags?

The city will continue distributing free reusable bags at local events and through partner organizations until its supply runs out. Pummell also suggested checking out thrift stores, Facebook Marketplace or Facebook groups (including "buy nothing" groups).

What about the Colorado ban on plastic bags and polystyrene containers?

The local plastic bag ban precedes a broader statewide policy taking effect in 2023 and 2024. Starting in 2024, plastic bags will be banned at most Colorado stores and restaurants, and expanded polystyrene/Styrofoam containers (including cups) will be banned at restaurants and other “retail food establishments.” Impacted businesses will start collecting a 10-cent paper bag fee in 2023.

Small stores with three locations or fewer, if they're all in Colorado, will be exempted from the plastic bag ban but not the polystyrene ban.

City Council modified the local policy for better alignment with the state policy so the size of the paper bag fee will remain the same once the state policy takes effect. Residents will see the paper bag fee expand to more stores and restaurants in 2023; then in 2024 the impacted businesses will stop offering single-use plastic bags and Styrofoam containers.

How are the city and grocery stores preparing for the ban?

City staff have been meeting with representatives of large grocers regularly since the fall to go over logistics. For grocers, preparation has involved things like stocking up on paper bags, training employees, updating their systems to incorporate the paper bag fee and working out their approaches for self-checkout, home delivery and curbside pickup. The preparations have varied store-to-store, Pummell said. Some stores, such as Lucky's Market and Trader Joe's, already didn't carry plastic bags.

The city's preparations have also involved communication about the new policy on social media and other outlets. Additionally, the city has been distributing free reusable bags with assistance from local organizations, focusing on middle- and lower-income households.

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I always forget to bring my reusable grocery bags! Any tips?

Pummell suggested stashing reusable bags in your car, bike trailer, purse or backpack so you always have a few on hand when you need them. Switching over to reusable bags is a behavior change, so with practice you're likely to form a habit and start remembering to bring them with you to the store.

Should I wash my reusable bags?

Yes, by hand with soap and water or in the washing machine if they're made of cotton or canvas.

Jacy Marmaduke covers government accountability for the Coloradoan. Follow her on Twitter @jacymarmaduke. Support her work and that of other Coloradoan journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Fort Collins' plastic bag ban takes effect May 1. Here's the FAQ.