Plastic Bag Tax Approved By Falls Church City Council

FALLS CHURCH, VA — On Monday, Falls Church City Council approved a 5-cent plastic bag tax that will begin at grocery stores, convenience stores and drug stores in April 2022.

The 5-cent tax on each disposable plastic bag will be charged at applicable City of Falls Church stores starting April 1, 2022. Customers can avoid the charge by using reusable bags at checkout. The tax will not apply to plastic bags used to wrap ice cream, meat, fish, poultry, produce, unwrapped bulk food or perishable food items to avoid damage or contamination; plastic bags for dry cleaning or prescription drugs, and multiple plastic bags sold in packages for garbage, pet waste or leaf removal. The tax will not apply to durable plastic bags made for reuse.

Authority for localities to implement a plastic bag tax came under 2020 state legislation. Other nearby localities including Fairfax County and Arlington County have adopted their own plastic bag tax ordinances that will take effect on Jan. 1, 2022. Because an adopted local ordinance requires a review by the Virginia tax commissioner, adoption must happen three months before the effective date.

The tax will be collected by the Virginia tax commissioner. There will be deductions provided to the state and retailers for administering the tax. Retailers will maintain two cents of every five cents collected until Jan. 1, 2023. After Jan. 1, 2023, retailers will maintain one cent of every five cents.

The intent of the plastic bag tax is to discourage disposable plastic bag use, as plastic bags are frequently pollutants in local watersheds. After deductions, localities can use remaining plastic bag tax revenue for several purposes under state law. These include environmental cleanup, education programs to reduce environmental waste, mitigation of pollution and litter, and reusable bags provided to recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC) benefits.

SNAP of WIC recipients will be able to receive a free reusable bag from the city's Housing and Human Services at City Hall starting Jan. 10. Hours for pickups will be 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays, excluding observed holidays.

The city estimates around 20 businesses will be impacted. According to the city's website, "in order to be subject to the tax in a locality, a grocery store, convenience store, or drug store must maintain regular business hours at a fixed place of business in the locality."

For more information about the plastic bag tax, see the city's website.