Fox 31 Denver reports that Senate Bill 26-146, “Restrict Single-Use Food Serviceware Distribution,” would require restaurants and third-party delivery services to ask before providing single-use items like utensils, napkins, condiments, straws, lids, trays and chopsticks. In plain English, your ketchup packet is now a legislative matter, because apparently Colorado has solved crime, housing, affordability, roads, schools, drugs, and energy.
The bill is sponsored by Democratic Sen. Lisa Cutter, who says her goal is “zero waste.” According to the article, Cutter said this kind of policy has been floated before, but this time it was brought forward by Cherry Creek High School students who helped draft the language, promote the bill, and meet with stakeholders. So there it is. The youth group did a vibe check, and now the rest of Colorado gets condiment compliance theater.
The Bullet Point Brief
- SB26-146 would expand Colorado’s “Pollution Reduction Act” by limiting automatic distribution of single-use food service items. Because nothing screams limited government like deputizing the state to monitor napkin deployment.
- Customers would still be allowed to get ketchup packets, utensils, straws, lids, chopsticks, trays and other items. They would just have to ask, or the restaurant would have to ask first. The republic, naturally, hangs in the balance.
- Cutter defended the idea by asking how many people have drawers full of soy sauce, chopsticks, ketchup, and other unused items. Fair question. Also not a reason to turn the Colorado Revised Statutes into a junk drawer inventory system.
- The article says the bill could take effect as soon as Aug. 12 and has passed the Committee of the Whole on its way to the House. Somewhere out there, a small business owner just felt a new compliance headache forming behind the left eye.
- Cutter said she likes not only the policy, but that it helps young people understand the legislative process. Wonderful. Maybe next semester they can learn that not every classroom project needs to become a statewide mandate.
My Bottom Line
This bill has been brought up a couple of times before and then summarily dismissed because it is laughable micro-regulation nanny-state nonsense. Which means, naturally, it is back. Bad ideas in Colorado politics do not die. They compost, rebrand, and return with a youth advisory sticker.
According to Sen. Lisa Cutter, this time it has merit because some Cherry Creek High School students wanted it. Great. The kids brainstormed, the Capitol swooned, and now Coloradans may need the government’s blessing to keep a fork from disappearing into the bureaucratic fog. This is not leadership. This is legislative daycare with fiscal notes.
And let’s be honest about the bigger problem. Colorado lawmakers have a strange addiction to managing tiny parts of other people’s lives while massive problems sit in the corner wearing a name tag. Affordability? Housing? Crime? Drugs? Transportation? Energy costs? Schools? Border impacts? Nah. Let’s make sure nobody gets an unauthorized soy sauce packet.
Small businesses already deal with taxes, labor rules, inflation, supply costs, insurance, rent, and the normal chaos of serving the public. Now the state wants to make them ask whether every customer requires a napkin. Can Colorado be any more laughable? Give Denver time. They have a committee hearing and a reusable clipboard.
Source: Fox 31 Denver
Share your thoughts...