Plastic utensils and condiment packets will no longer automatically come with delivery and takeout food in Denver, after the City Council approved a bill requiring customers to opt-in to receive them.

Under the ordinance, restaurants and third-party delivery companies will be required to ask customers if they want single-use items like cutlery, napkins and condiments instead of just providing them. For online orders, customers will need to opt-in to receive them by checking a box.

The ordinance, which aims to reduce single-use plastic and the amount of plastic going into landfills, was unanimously approved in its second and final vote Monday.

“I describe this bill as a win-win-win,” said Councilwoman Kendra Black, who sponsored the ordinance, during Monday’s meeting.

“Environmental groups support it because it will reduce waste. Residents support it because they have drawers full of unwanted plastic forks, chopsticks and ketchup packets. And restaurants support it because they care about reducing waste and will actually save money.”

The Office of Climate Action will establish the rules and enforcement practices for the ordinance, which will go into effect as soon as the rules and practices are finalized. While there is no set timeline, Black said it will be sometime this year.

In the United States, nearly 36 million tons of plastic waste is generated annually and around 75% goes to landfills, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

The International Solid Waste Association estimates single-use plastic consumption has grown by 250% to 300% in the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic — which can be partially attributed to increasing use of food delivery and to-go ordering.

The issue is also evident in Denver, specifically. During a trash collection audit by TrashBlitz Denver in October, six out of the top 20 most littered items were food wrappers, straws, lids, cups, plastic cutlery and to-go containers.

“This small bill will hopefully have a big impact on the use of some single-use plastic and waste,” Black said.

Single-use items under the ordinance are expected to include straws, stirrers, drink stoppers, utensils, chopsticks, condiments, portion cups, napkins and large serving utensils.

Black said she conducted extensive community outreach — including to Eat Denver, the Colorado Restaurant Association and over 2,000 local restaurants — and has received no opposition to the bill.

Similarly, no members of the public submitted letters of opposition or called in regarding the ordinance during Monday’s meeting or last Wednesday’s committee meeting.

The companies UberEats, DoorDash and Postmates already ask their customers to opt-in for single-use items and, in 2020, GrubHub did an opt-in pilot program in New York and New Jersey in which 80% of customers opted-out and the company received zero complaints out of 120,000 orders.

“How many times do we get bills with no opposition? I think that’s pretty awesome,” said Councilman Chris Hinds, who co-sponsored the ordinance, during the committee meeting.

Businesses that will likely be exempt from the ordinance include schools, facilities providing patient care, hotels and service providers like Meals on Wheels and homeless shelters.

Enforcement practices are expected to be complaint-based and will offer restaurants and delivery companies the opportunity to address issues before any fines or penalties are imposed.

Plastic utensils and condiment packets will no longer automatically come with delivery and takeout food in Denver, after the City Council approved a bill requiring customers to opt-in to receive them.

Under the ordinance, restaurants and third-party delivery companies will be required to ask customers if they want single-use items like cutlery, napkins and condiments instead of just providing them. For online orders, customers will need to opt-in to receive them by checking a box.

The ordinance, which aims to reduce single-use plastic and the amount of plastic going into landfills, was unanimously approved in its second and final vote Monday.

“I describe this bill as a win-win-win,” said Councilwoman Kendra Black, who sponsored the ordinance, during Monday’s meeting.

“Environmental groups support it because it will reduce waste. Residents support it because they have drawers full of unwanted plastic forks, chopsticks and ketchup packets. And restaurants support it because they care about reducing waste and will actually save money.”

The Office of Climate Action will establish the rules and enforcement practices for the ordinance, which will go into effect as soon as the rules and practices are finalized. While there is no set timeline, Black said it will be sometime this year.

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In the United States, nearly 36 million tons of plastic waste is generated annually and around 75% goes to landfills, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

The International Solid Waste Association estimates single-use plastic consumption has grown by 250% to 300% in the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic — which can be partially attributed to increasing use of food delivery and to-go ordering.

The issue is also evident in Denver, specifically. During a trash collection audit by TrashBlitz Denver in October, six out of the top 20 most littered items were food wrappers, straws, lids, cups, plastic cutlery and to-go containers.

“This small bill will hopefully have a big impact on the use of some single-use plastic and waste,” Black said.

Single-use items under the ordinance are expected to include straws, stirrers, drink stoppers, utensils, chopsticks, condiments, portion cups, napkins and large serving utensils.

Black said she conducted extensive community outreach — including to Eat Denver, the Colorado Restaurant Association and over 2,000 local restaurants — and has received no opposition to the bill.

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Similarly, no members of the public submitted letters of opposition or called in regarding the ordinance during Monday’s meeting or last Wednesday’s committee meeting.

The companies UberEats, DoorDash and Postmates already ask their customers to opt-in for single-use items and, in 2020, GrubHub did an opt-in pilot program in New York and New Jersey in which 80% of customers opted-out and the company received zero complaints out of 120,000 orders.

“How many times do we get bills with no opposition? I think that’s pretty awesome,” said Councilman Chris Hinds, who co-sponsored the ordinance, during the committee meeting.

Businesses that will likely be exempt from the ordinance include schools, facilities providing patient care, hotels and service providers like Meals on Wheels and homeless shelters.

Enforcement practices are expected to be complaint-based and will offer restaurants and delivery companies the opportunity to address issues before any fines or penalties are imposed.