Single-use plastic bags will be leaving large Colorado stores and restaurants in 2024.

As reported by Denver Gazette media partner 9News, beginning Jan. 1, 2024, Colorado stores and retail food establishments will be prohibited from providing single-use plastic carryout bags to customers.

On and after Jan. 1, 2024 a store in Colorado may furnish only a recycled paper carryout bag to a customer at the point of sale at a fee of 10 cents per bag — or a higher fee imposed by the municipality or county in which the store is located.

The new law is part of House Bill 21-1162 that the Colorado General Assembly enacted in 2021.

However, the law says certain retail food establishments, and small stores that operate solely in Colorado and have three or fewer locations, may still provide single-use plastic carryout bags after Jan. 1, 2024.

Starting Jan. 1, 2023, and continuing to Jan. 1, 2024, stores and restaurants in Colorado could furnish a recycled paper carryout bag or a single-use plastic carryout bag to a customer at the point of sale if the customer pays a fee of 10 cents per bag or a higher fee adopted by the municipality or county in which the store is located.

House Bill 21-1162 act does not apply to materials used in the packaging of pharmaceutical drugs, medical devices, or dietary supplements or any equipment or materials used to manufacture pharmaceutical drugs, medical devices, or dietary supplements.

The carryout bag fee will also not apply to a customer that provides evidence to the store that the customer is a participant in a federal or state food assistance program.

Read more about HB-21-1162 here.