Frequently Asked Questions

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1. What businesses are included in the single-use bag fee?

• Grocery stores and supermarkets
• Major retailers
• Major convenience stores
• Clothing stores
• Hardware stores
• Other stores that are a franchise or a chain located outside of Colorado
• Other major stores that include self-checkout and delivery services
• Major liquor stores

2. What are the exemptions from single-use bag fee?

• Customers that provide evidence to the store that they are a participant in a federal or state food assistance program
• Farmers markets
• Laundry or dry cleaning services
• Bulk stores
• Smaller businesses with three or fewer locations
• Pharmacies
• Bags used by consumers inside the store for items like produce, bulk items, candy, small hardware items, meat, bakery, or floral items
• Restaurants are exempt from the single-use bag fee however they will be prohibited from distributing polystyrene foam containers beginning in 2024

3. Where will the bag fee money go?

• Businesses retain 40% of the fee to cover the cost of administration and compliance
• Arvada receives 60% of the fee to support recycling, waste diversion programs, and related outreach and educational activities
• The single-use bag fee is not a tax and cannot be used for non-related expenses so it does not violate TABOR