The city of Aspen has unveiled a proposed ordinance that seeks to charge grocery-store customers 20 cents for each plastic or paper bag used in sacking their items.
The ordinance is on the agenda for the Aspen City Council’s meeting Monday. Since the proposal is a “first reading,” there will be no public hearing, but some discussion among city officials is likely. Area residents will get their chance to weigh in on the matter when the ordinance comes up for second reading and a possible final vote on Sept. 12.
City officials have been discussing the possibility of a bag fee for the past few years. The city hopes that by implementing a charge on each disposable bag, local consumers will get in the habit of bringing their own reusable bags to stores as an alternate method of carrying home groceries.
The overall aim of the ordinance is to cut down on the use and production of plastic bags, which are made from petroleum products and have the reputation of being environmentally unfriendly because consumers rarely recycle them. The measure includes paper bags as well.
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