Colorado charges a 2.9 percent tax for products that use nonessential packaging. That sounds like a smart idea that encourages consumers to choose eco-friendly products that don’t include so much waste.
Unfortunately, the Colorado State Legislature has an odd definition of nonessential, at least when it comes to coffee cups and lids. If you buy a cup of coffee without a lid, you don’t pay the tax. If you buy a cup of coffee with a lid, though, you pay the extra tax for nonessential packaging.
Is it possible that people working for the state have never tried to drive or walk while drinking coffee? It only takes one spill to realize that the lid is pretty essential.