Message Deck

Aspiration

• To stop all plastic use within The City of Littleton, Colorado. The environment is in desperate need of relief.

• Providing said relief will bring about a more prosperous life for those who inhabit the city, and this small act can seriously contribute to this goal.

The Challenge

• Colorado’s citizens take pride in being environmentally friendly and cherishing the phenomenal location that they live in - the sweeping Rocky Mountains, multi-colored sunrises/sunsets, rivers, lakes, and so much more. But the reality is that plastic is polluting the Colorado environment as everyday items, such as plastic bags, end up invading the environment.

• Within The City of Littleton, the South Platte River is suffering tremendously with plastic litter. This results in costly government clean-up, paid for by funds that could be going towards education, infrastructure repair, and so much more.

The Solution

• To save the South Platte and its ecosystem, Littleton would need to significantly decrease the amount of plastic that ends up in the river.

• It is time to disrupt daily plastic use and create an innovative and accessible option for city residents. This can be done by limiting the number of plastic bags used in the citizens’ everyday lives.

The Ask (We Need)

• City government in Littleton to pass a plastic bag gas tax to limit the amount of plastic bags used in the residents’ everyday lives

  • By implementing a plastic bag tax, the city would be able to significantly reduce the amount of plastic circulating within the community.

  • The plastic bag tax would apply to all businesses with The City of Littleton - the only exception being people on welfare and food stamps.

  • The tax would be 10 cents per bag, with 40% of the revenue going back to the business and 60% going to the city.

  • The money going to the city would be used to hand out free reusable bags, as well as other items, and to provide money for environmental cleanup.

  • The 10 cent bag tax would incentivize the city's residents to reduce their use of plastic and provide them the resources to do so.

The Urgency

• We have no choice but to help the environment NOW ….

  • Currently, Colorado officials have deemed the South Platte River water inhabitable for the community.

  • Furthermore, it is strongly advised against swallowing water or fish from the river as it could be incredibly toxic.

  • How are we to let future generations survive and prosper here if we cannot take care of the world we are bringing them into?

• We can’t continue to let the environment suffer and damage it further and further beyond repair. The ecosystems within the South Platte River are in grave danger, and we have the power to improve the state of the river before it is too late.

The Hope

• The implementation of a plastic bag tax would provide for a cleaner and healthier environment for the whole community.

  • The City of Denver just approved the law to reduce plastic bag usage within their community! Our city can do this too.

  • Reducing the amount of plastic used within the city would help clean the South Platte River.

  • By helping to clean up our environment, we will provide a healthier atmosphere for the community, which would lead to fewer health issues later down the road.

  • The revenue generated from the plastic bag tax would help solve other environmental issues within our community and repair the damage done.

Date Point

• Twelve million single-use plastic bags are used annually in The City of Littleton. This results in thousands of plastic bags contaminating the South Platte River, which results in costly environmental clean-up.

  • According to the Denver Post, E. Coli contamination (within the South Platte River area) is at levels up to 137 times higher than the federal safety limit. Regulating the environment around the Platte would provide a lower contamination rate of the water, improving the safety of the city.

  • As of July 1st, 2021, the 10 cent bag tax has been actively used by The City of Denver and has curved plastic bag usage by 83% percent and generated around 1.4 million dollars in revenue.

• If The City of Littleton followed the same pattern as The City of Denver, the city would use roughly 9,840,000 fewer bags a year.

45 Second Pitch: 12 million single-use plastic bags are used annually by The City of Littleton and end up polluting the South Platte River, choking the ecosystem inside. Skip the bag to save the river!

Quick Message: Skip the bag, save the river