Colorado State Rep. Alex Valdez Passes Nation-Leading Plastic Pollution Bill

Overview

After attending NCEL’s 2019 National Forum, Colorado State Representative Alex Valdez took what he learned from other states about addressing plastic pollution to craft and enact a comprehensive bill to reduce the use of single-use plastics.

• In the Words of Rep. Valdez: “One of the first [NCEL] sessions I sat in on was an informative session on plastic pollution reduction. This is always something I’ve wanted to tackle as a legislator because obviously plastic is terrible for the environment, terrible for human health. But NCEL really provided that guidance for me, connecting me with other legislators who have done the work before and who were able to guide me and my colleagues through the process of developing our own plastic reduction bill.” 

• Why Action on Plastic Pollution Matters: Plastic pollution has reached every part of the planet, with 9 million tonnes of plastic waste entering the world’s oceans each year. Without comprehensive policy action, plastic pollution will get worse in the coming years. The U.S. currently recycles only 5% of all plastic, and plastic production is expected to increase by more than 30% in the next decade as the fossil fuel industry seeks to make up for lost sources of revenue. 

Action: Learning and Collaborating on Plastics

In 2019, the newly elected Colorado State Representative Alex Valdez attended NCEL’s National Forum for the first time. While at the Forum, Rep. Valdez learned about the plastic pollution crisis and relevant policy solutions from other states that he could advance in Colorado. In the years following the Forum, Rep. Valdez took what he learned and continued to work with NCEL to introduce a suite of plastic pollution policies in the Colorado legislature. 

Outcome: Rep. Valdez as a Leading Voice on Plastic Waste Reduction

As a direct result of his work with NCEL, Rep. Valdez authored and passed HB21-1162 in 2021. The comprehensive bill phases out single-use plastic bags, polystyrene cups, and containers, as well as reverses a law that prohibited Colorado municipalities from taking action on plastic pollution. In January of 2024, Colorado stores officially stopped using single-use plastic bags, thanks to Rep. Valdez’s legislation.

Rep. Valdez continues to inform and collaborate on state plastic policy as a member of NCEL’s Board of Directors and Plastic Pollution Working Group.