A Cortez Resident Reduces Reliance on Plastic Bags by Providing Reusable Options | LOR Foundation
Complete Environment

A Cortez Resident Reduces Reliance on Plastic Bags by Providing Reusable Options

Cortez
  • Local Champion: a cortez resident
  • Date Funded: September 30, 2021
  • Grant Amount: $13,410

After Colorado State House Bill 21-1162 created a ban on single-use plastic bags by 2023, one local Cortez resident realized how significant a problem they were: More than 30,000 plastic bags are provided through local stores in the Cortez area every day. She also knew that Cortez residents are hesitant to change their behavior without understanding why. So she decided to work with local retailers and nonprofits to distribute free reusable, washable, large capacity sacks and produce sacks to low-income individuals—and to build support for the effort by involving local students in the creation of multilingual educational materials about the benefits of reusable bags.

This project is fiscally sponsored by Onward! A Legacy Foundation. 

Impact

After seeing the initial impact, store managers at Walmart, Safeway, and City Market donated hundreds more reusable bags to the cause and the City of Cortez is now working on additional forms of outreach to educate community members about House Bill 21-1162.

In The News

SUP2sack thanks LOR Foundation, retail stores and volunteers (Cortez Journal)
Cortez urged to stop using single-use plastic bags (Durango Herald)

Contact our community officer in Cortez. Meet Nicci Crowley
More Environment Solutions
Environment / Libby Legal Services Help Launch a Libby Community Garden
Local Champion:
A Libby local
Date funded:
October 22, 2025
Grant Amount:
$3,899
Environment / Cortez A Conservation Garden Helps Environmental Education Take Root in Downtown Cortez
Local Champion:
Montezuma Land Conservancy
Date funded:
October 3, 2025
Grant Amount:
$9,950
Environment / Libby An Educational Booklet Helps Libby Residents Understand Forest Management
Local Champion:
Lincoln County Port Authority
Date funded:
September 30, 2025
Grant Amount:
$9,582
Environment / Lander New Equipment Opens Underground Exploration to All Lander Residents
Local Champion:
Sinks Canyon Conservancy
Date funded:
September 30, 2025
Grant Amount:
$6,574
Environment / Weiser New Flags Honor Weiser’s Veterans
Local Champion:
City of Weiser
Date funded:
September 25, 2025
Grant Amount:
$3,750
Environment / Weiser A Visitor Screening System Strengthens Safety at Weiser Schools
Local Champion:
Weiser School District 431
Date funded:
September 25, 2025
Grant Amount:
$14,596
See All solutions

Share an Idea

If you have an idea for improving quality of life in Cortez or Monte Vista, Colorado; Lander, Wyoming; Libby, Montana; Questa or Taos, New Mexico; or Weiser, Idaho, use this form to start a conversation with us.

"*" indicates required fields