Bring Your Own Bag and Reusable Containers

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February update: Check out the good news about the reduced use of single-use plastic bags in the news feed below.

Important information

The second part of the state’s plastic free law will affect your dining and takeout experience. Updates to this project page can help you save money and show your support for environmentally friendly business practices. Remember that reducing use is the best approach because it avoids the creation of packaging altogether, which means no environmental impacts from manufacturing the packaging.

Skip the plastic stuff

February update: Check out the good news about the reduced use of single-use plastic bags in the news feed below.

Important information

The second part of the state’s plastic free law will affect your dining and takeout experience. Updates to this project page can help you save money and show your support for environmentally friendly business practices. Remember that reducing use is the best approach because it avoids the creation of packaging altogether, which means no environmental impacts from manufacturing the packaging.

Skip the plastic stuff

  • Ask the business to let you use your own reusable containers for takeout or leftovers after dining.

  • Say "no thanks" to single-use items with your takeout order, or request only the items you need and skip the rest.

  • Bring your own carryout bags. Lakewood has a limited supply of free carryout bags you can pick up at the City Clerk’s Office, 480 S. Allison Parkway.

  • Use of reusable containers are healthier for food storage and reheating.

  • Help your favorite restaurant lower their costs.

  • Protect the environment because reusable containers are eco-friendly.

Carry your own reusable utensils
  • Reusable utensils can help you save money. There are many stylish options to carry reusable utensils in a compact case. Many cases contain a fork, knife, spoon, straw, and chopsticks, so you are ready for any meal that you packed or purchased.

  • Reusable utensils lower the costs for your favorite restaurant.

  • Reusable utensils are more durable. Everyone has experienced a plastic fork breaking or the plastic knife not cutting.

  • Reusable utensils are easier on the environment.

Bring your own reusable bag

  • Plastic bags are now banned. Save money on plastic by skipping the 10 cent fee for a paper bags.

  • Reusable bags are durable and don’t break as easily. Lakewood has a limited supply of free carryout bags you can pick up at the City Clerk’s Office, 480 S. Allison Parkway.

  • Reusable bags help keep plastic bags out of the environment, which is good for streams, lakes, oceans, wildlife and the Earth.


Residents can ask questions here

If you are a resident, ask a question here about the bag fee and what you'll experience as a customer. City staff will respond within three business days. Questions and answers about this project will be visible to the public.

If you are a business owner with questions, please visit the online resource center for businesses.

For complaints about this issue or concerns regarding other city topics, please visit Lakewood.org/RequestLakewood, which is the city's online customer service hub available online 24 hours a day.

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    Will there be the new bags at Earth Day?

    Billi asked about 1 year ago

    Yes, we will have bags available, and they will either be the current bag we've distributed that has the BYOB logo on it or the new bags with the bag design winner on them. We are awaiting the arrival of our order with the bag design winner on them, and if they don't arrive in time for the Earth Day Celebration, we'll have the BYOB bags. The bags with winning design will also be distributed at other city festival later in the year. 

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    ok - went to lakewood.org/freebags - looking not finding - WHERE I GET MY FREE BAGS??????? and are they of sufficient quality to be worth the effort to track them down

    phroggy asked about 1 year ago

    I'm sorry you've had difficulty finding one of our distribution points. The best place to pick up bags is at the City Clerk's Office, 480 S. Allison Parkway, in Lakewood's Civic Center, and this information was available on the website at this link: https://www.lakewoodtogether.org/freebags/news_feed/updates-resources

    Resident can pick up two bags at this location while supplies last.

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    You said you had a plan to make reusable bags using T-shirt on this web page. I can't find it.

    Betty asked about 1 year ago

    Betty -- Sorry you had trouble finding this. Here is the link for the video: https://www.lakewoodtogether.org/freebags/widgets/57652/videos/4086 from the video block in the upper right corner of this website. It's the second video, so you have to click on "more" to see the additional video. Let me know if you have any more trouble with this.

    -- Stacie

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    Where can you recycle the old store plastic bags?

    RJP asked about 1 year ago

    Plastic carryout bags can be recycled at King Soopers grocery stores. There's a barrel typically near a store's entrance or by the checkout stands for the bags to be recycled. Other grocery chains might also have barrels available for dropping these plastic bags off for recycling. 

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    Why would you send me to the sign up form via the Looking at Lakewood paper that arrived today, only to find the form no longer valid? Frustrating!

    Linda Mitchell asked about 1 year ago

    Linda -- You are absolutely right, and the reason the sign up form closed is because the bags are here and available for pick up. I didn't update the website with the pick-up information before closing the sign-up form, so I apologize for that. Please feel free to pick up a bag at the City Clerk's Office at the Civic Center (see newsfeed). There is a small supply of bags at the city's recreation centers as well.

    -- Stacie 

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    We were recently at Ranch 40 West and were charged .35 for a take out box. Is this part of the bag program? Thank you.

    Cmlad asked about 1 year ago

    That doesn't sound right, but I would recommend using our online form to report this issue. Our Finance Department will then contact the business to provide guidance on complying with the new state law.

    -- Stacie

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    This is more a request of your consideration of these issues than an outright question: if your free bags will be made of cotton, I suggest that you provide some tips on their use, care, and recycling, such as not putting meats in the same bag as other items, and laundry instructions to get rid of the bacteria that can inhabit cloth bags. And, many of these bags will need to be recycled due to shrinkage, holes, and ripped handles. You would be doing Lakewood residents and the landfills a big service by either providing a free textile recycling service or referring bag owners to an existing free textile recycling service when their bag becomes unusable. Perhaps a brief tip sheet with all of this information could be provided with each bag.

    80228 asked over 1 year ago

    Yes, thanks for the information. I planned on adding bag care information in the coming weeks.

    -- Stacie

Page last updated: 28 Feb 2024, 09:12 AM