Aurora prohibits restaurants and retail food establishments from using expanded polystyrene foam takeout containers under Colorado HB21-1162, effective January 2024 with no exemption for small businesses.
Colorado HB21-1162 banned expanded polystyrene foam containers for prepared food at retail food establishments statewide, effective January 1, 2024. Aurora restaurants, cafeterias, food trucks, and grocery hot bars cannot serve food in EPS foam clamshells, cups, or trays. The ban applies regardless of business size. Acceptable replacements include compostable fiber, paper, recyclable plastic, and aluminum containers. Aurora schools, hospitals at Anschutz Medical Campus, and city facilities also follow the ban. Tri-County Health Department conducts spot checks during routine restaurant inspections, and Aurora Code Enforcement responds to consumer complaints.
Using prohibited foam containers leads to fines starting at 500 dollars and rising to 1,000 dollars for repeat violations. Tri-County Health may also flag noncompliance during food safety inspections.
See how Aurora's polystyrene foam rules rules stack up against other locations.
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