Breckenridge plans to implement the final two stages of its materials management initiative to rid the town of single-use plastics on July 1. After July single-use plastic water bottles, containers and service ware will be banned from the town alongside plastic foam, which was banned Jan. 1.

The plastic water bottle ban includes all businesses in Breckenridge, and the single-use container and service ware ban applies to retail food establishments.

Breckenridge’s sustainability manager, Jessie Burley, gave updates to Town Council on June 25 regarding the town’s communications with businesses that will be impacted by the ban. She said most communications with restaurants have been done through the Breckenridge Restaurants Association meeting where owners had the opportunity to bring any concerns or questions to the table and these discussions helped hash out any issues with the ban. She added a grant program meant to help business get into compliance by providing funding for reusable things has been well received by the business community.

In addition to reusable items being bought with the grants, some business are taking it a step further and using funding for items like energy-efficient dishwashers.

Burley said even Breckenridge’s largest business are on board with the ban.

“We did a walkthrough last week of City Market and they are on track to be compliant by July 1,” Burley said.

Burley said the town is continuing to roll out its public education campaign explaining the decision to go single-plastic free and highlighting the quality of Breckenridge’s drinking water to encourage people to not buy bottled water.

The campaign, which kicked off at the start of the ski season, is meant to encourage behavior that keeps “Breckenridge looking like Breckenridge” by demonstrating the impacts single-use plastics could have on climate change and how it could make the Breckenridge people know and love look different. 

Prior to the plastic foam and single-use plastic bans, the town prohibited single-use plastic water bottles and food service ware from town facilities and permitted events. A carryout bag fee was implemented in May. Also in May, the town began requiring retail food establishments and third-party delivery platforms to offer all service-ware and condiments by request only. The town is pushing for establishments to pivot to fiber and aluminum products instead of single-use plastic and plastic foam because they are less harmful materials to the environment.

Planning efforts to move away from single-use plastic officially began in 2023 and were solidified by an ordinance approved by Breckenridge Town Council at a May 4, 2023 meeting.

Town staffers have previously expressed that the changes being implemented were largely influenced by the 2021 Plastic Pollution Reduction Act. Up until the Plastic Pollution Reduction Act, the state of Colorado was restricted from prohibiting or banning the use or sale of certain plastics. The act repealed this ban starting in July 2023.