As local restaurants and shops open their doors once again, the City of Boulder wants to help businesses to minimize the cost and effort associated with collecting compostable materials. Through the new and improved, subscription-based Green Bag Giveaway聽program, the city is offering local businesses compostable trash bags for a year. The city hopes to support local businesses by curbing some of the costs and hassle associated with commercial composting, while simultaneously helping Boulder achieve its ambitious zero waste goals.
Funded through the 10-cent Disposable Bag Fee levied on disposable plastic and paper checkout bags at all grocery stores in Boulder, the Green Bag Giveaway program both supports local businesses who are composting and helps to minimize plastic contamination in the finished compost product.
In 2006, the city developed a set of zero waste targets as part of its commitment to meaningful climate action. One such target stipulates that by 2025, the average Boulder business will recycle and compost 85% of its waste. To ensure the city is on track to meet these targets, in 2015, the city enacted a Universal Zero 91仓库 Ordinance . The ordinance expands recycling and composting services to all Boulder residents, employees and visitors.
Compliance with the ordinance requires all city businesses to separate recycling and compostable materials from trash by providing properly placed containers and signage to facilitate collection. Recognizing the additional expense that compostable bags can pose for local businesses, the city launched the Green Bag Giveaway program to help defray the associated costs. 鈥淭hrough this subscription-based program, we are removing some of the cost barriers and automating elements of the composting process for our Boulder businesses,鈥� said City of Boulder Sustainability Coordinator Sandy Briggs.