This Colorado mountain town banned the sale of single-use plastic

DENVER ( KDVR ) — Not only was July 1 the start of a new month, but it was the day more than a dozen new laws and ordinances went into effect — and one ordinance is helping a mountain town go a little greener.

On July 1, the town of Breckenridge officially began prohibiting the sale of single-use plastic water bottles less than one gallon.

By eliminating the sale of single-use plastic in Breckenridge, the town is working towards its goal of achieving a 20% source reduction of municipal solid waste.

The ordinance prohibits the sale of single-use plastic, but Breckenridge said retail establishments can continue to sell water that is packaged in non-plastic containers, like aluminum cans which can be recycled.

“We are proud to lead by example in addressing plastic pollution,” said Sustainability and Parking Manager Jessica Burley. “This ordinance reflects our dedication to preserving our natural environment for future generations.”

So, next time you head across Interstate 70 toward Breck, be sure to pack a reusable water bottle. While single-use plastic will not be sold, Breckenridge offers several refill water stations around town. Breck reiterated that the water in the refill stations is clean and safe to drink and may even taste better than some bottled products.

The ban on selling single-use plastic isn’t the only green initiative the town has enacted. According to Breckenridge, the town requires customers to opt-in to single-use service ware and condiments at restaurants, the town raised carryout bag fees to 25 cents each and banned polystyrene containers at food establishments.

According to Breckenridge’s tourism center, the town has a permanent population of nearly 4,800 people with more than a million visitors stopping by each year.

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