Aurora encourages food service businesses to provide disposable plastic utensils, condiments, and napkins only on customer request as part of voluntary waste reduction under the Aurora Climate Action Plan.
Aurora has not enacted a mandatory upon-request rule for disposable utensils, but the Aurora Climate Action Plan adopted in 2021 promotes voluntary participation by food service businesses. Restaurants, food trucks, and delivery platforms are encouraged to default to no-utensil takeout orders unless customers opt in. The policy reduces unnecessary single-use plastic in landfills and aligns with statewide HB21-1162 sustainability goals. Aurora city facilities and schools have adopted on-request defaults for staff cafeterias. Delivery apps operating in Aurora typically include a check-box for utensils. The Tri-County Health Department supports outreach efforts to small restaurants.
There are no city penalties for providing utensils automatically. Voluntary adoption is monitored through Aurora Sustainability reporting. False compostable claims remain enforceable under Colorado consumer protection law.
See how Aurora's utensils-on-request rules stack up against other locations.
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