Denverites Recycle 57,500 Plastic Bags During Plastic Bag Swap Events

Denver’s Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency is celebrating the end of its successful Plastic Bag Swap events. From April through August, the city hosted 13 events, collected roughly 57,500 plastic bags (689 lbs – that’s about the size of an adult grizzly bear!), and gave away over 1,900 reusable bags. In conjunction with these events, the city received 1,104 survey responses on how to spend money collected through the Disposable Bag Fee and current habits. This survey had responses from every City Council district.

• 81% of survey respondents bring their reusable bag to the store “every time” or “most times, but not all.”
• 70% of survey respondents cited environmental protection and waste reduction as their primary motivator to bring their bags to the store.

All donated plastic and film was sent to Trex, a national outdoor living company, that recycles plastic into new outdoor furniture and decking.  

Residents can still recycle their plastic bags and film – including grocery bags, bread bags, bubble wrap, produce wrap and plastic shipping envelopes – at select Sprouts and Safeway locations.

For more information about how to reduce plastic waste, please visit Denver's website at www.denvergov.org/zerowaste.