The paper bag fee at Aspen grocery stores has been under a legal threat for the last two years but today Colorado’s Court of Appeals announced that it will uphold Aspen’s fee ordinance.
The legal battle started in the summer of 2013, when the Front-Range group Colorado Union of Taxpayers Foundation sued the city over Aspen’s fee. The group argued the fee is actually a tax that violates the state’s Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights. After today’s ruling in favor of the fee, Aspen will continue to collect 20 cents for paper bags. The fees go towards paying for reusable grocery bags provided for free to residents and visitors, education and more. The town of Carbondale also charges 20 cents at grocery stores, which was approved by voters around the same time that Aspen implemented its fee.