Proposed Plastic Bag Tax Meetings Scheduled In Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Meetings are set for a proposed tax on disposable plastic bags in the City of Alexandria. If City Council approves the plastic bag tax ordinance this fall, it would take effect on Jan. 1, 2022.

The ordinance proposes a 5-cent tax for each disposable plastic bag at grocery stores, convenience stores and drug stores. It would not apply to durable plastic bags at least four millimeters thick made for reuse; plastic bags used to contain or wrap meat, fish, poultry, produce, ice cream, unwrapped bulk food, or perishable food; plastic bags for dry cleaning or prescription drugs; or plastic bags sold for garbage or pet waste.

The first meeting is a virtual public information session on Wednesday, Sept. 8 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. The Zoom meeting will provide an overview of the plastic bags tax proposal, review frequently asked questions, and allow the community to provide input and ask questions. Feedback and questions may also be directed to wastesmart@alexandriava.gov.

City Council have a first reading of the proposed ordinance on Tuesday, Sept. 14, at 7 p.m. and public hearing on Saturday, Sept. 18 at 9:30 a.m.

The authority to impose a plastic bag ordinance comes from 2020 state legislation. A locality must make the effective date the first day of a calendar year. Adoption must happen three months before the tax effective date for review by the tax commissioner.

Under the state law, tax revenue can be used for environmental cleanup, educational programs designed to reduce environmental waste, pollution and litter mitigation, and reusable bags for recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or Women, Infants, and Children Program benefits.

Consideration of a local ordinance can come after the Virginia Department of Tax Administration shared final guidelines for plastic bag tax ordinances. The guidelines have an effective date of Oct. 28 after a public comment period on the state guidelines from Sept. 27 to Oct. 27. City ordinance amendments could follow if any changes are necessitated.

After retailer deductions and collection costs by the Virginia Department of Taxation, remaining revenue goes to the locality. Retailers that would collect the tax would keep two cents for every five cents collected until Jan. 1, 2023, and one cent per plastic bag after Jan. 1, 2023.

The city cites the presence of plastic bags in waterways as litter and a pollutant. The microscopic particles found in broken down plastics can also enter the water and be ingested. The city's 2019 and 2020 Legislative Packages included support for legislation reducing single-use plastic bag use after residents expressed concerns about plastic bags during WasteSmart Strategic Plan and Environmental Action Plan public engagement.

More information on the plastic bag tax proposal on the city's Plastic Bag Tax webpage.