The Carbondale, Colorado, Board of Trustees voted 5-1 in favor of a plastic grocery bag ban, rather than adopting a usage fee. The ban takes effect in May 2012 and closely mirrors one passed by neighboring Aspen’s City Council.

For now, the new ordinance applies only to bags provided at grocery stores larger than 3,500 square feet. It prohibits the distribution of plastic shopping bags to customers and imposes a 20-cent fee for each paper bag shoppers opt to use. Currently, there is only one grocery store that exceeds 3,500 square feet in Carbondale.

The ban does not apply to other types of plastic bags provided by grocery stores, such as produce and bakery bags and meat wrappers.

Trustee John Foulkrod called it a strong message to send to consumers about the dangerous health and environmental impacts from petroleum-based plastics, as well as over-consumerism in general. Carbondale Mayor Stacey Bernot voted against the ordinance, but not because she disagreed with the ban. She supported a larger, town-wide ban that would include other retail stores that provide carryout bags for their customers.

Under the ordinance, grocers will keep a portion of the fees to cover administrative costs. The remainder goes into a fund to provide education and outreach on the issue, support recycling efforts and provide reusable cloth carryout bags.

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