Laserfiche WebLink
L: Cityof ECONOMIC VITALITY COMMITTEE <br />Louisville <br />COLORADO -SINCE 1878 <br />SUBJECT: DISCUSSION - BAG TAX FUNDED SUSTAINABILITY <br />PROGRAMS OVERVIEW <br />DATE: DECEMBER 15, 2023 <br />PRESENTED BY: AUSTIN BROWN, INTERIM ECONOMIC VITALITY MANAGER <br />HANNAH MILLER, SUSTAINABILITY SPECIALIST <br />KAYLA BETZOLD, SUSTAINABILITY MANAGER <br />SUMMARY: <br />In 2020, Louisville voters approved Ballot Question 2A, which aims to reduce single -use <br />bag consumption within the community by applying a $0.25 tax on every paper and <br />plastic bag provided to customers by Louisville retailers. The bag tax went into effect <br />January 1, 2022. After Council approval in March 2023, the Sustainability Division <br />created six new commercial sustainability programs funded by the disposable bag tax <br />revenue. These programs will begin in early 2024. <br />DISCUSSION: <br />The objective of the bag -tax funded sustainability programs is to utilize the collected <br />revenue to provide programs and services to the Louisville community that continue to <br />reduce waste and advance sustainability in the commercial sector. When the <br />Sustainability division developed the waste programs proposal, staff intended to <br />develop a variety of programs, so that individual businesses are able to choose the <br />program that best suits the needs of the specific business. <br />Businesses that provide disposable bags to customers and remit bag tax will have the <br />option to choose one waste reduction program per calendar year and the estimated <br />value of all waste reduction programs are $1,000, so that the value of each program <br />option is comparable to the other program options. If funding allows, all other Louisville <br />businesses will be eligible to participate in the programs in Q4 of 2024. <br />Staff proposes the following five bag tax funded waste reduction programs: <br />1. Bulk Supply of Reusable Bags <br />2. One Year Subscription to Hard -to -Recycle Pick Up Services <br />3. Establish Commercial Recycling or Composting Services <br />4. Reusable Takeout Pilot Program <br />5. Commercial Sustainability Grant <br />Additional information on each of these programs is included in Attachment #1. <br />Eligible businesses may self-select the program in which they would like to enroll <br />through January. Staff will meet individually with each participating business in March to <br />confirm program selection and define expectations before programs begin in April. It's <br />anticipated that there will also be a program evaluation survey distributed to <br />participating businesses in August. <br />Agenda Packet P. 8 <br />