City, County to Implement Tax on Single-Use Plastic Bags

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The proposed five-cent tax on single-use plastic bags at grocery stores, convenience stores, and pharmacies in the City of Charlottesville will take effect on Jan 1, 2023. The move follows the Virginia State law passed in 2020 that allows local governments to impose tax on use of single-use plastic bags.

The City officials and community members expressed the hope that the tax would lead to drastic reduction in pollution caused by single-use plastics. It must be noted that the City Council meeting Monday night had voted 4-0 in favour of the tax.

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The Charlottesville Council noted that all grocery stores, pharmacies, and convenience stores in the city and the county are required to participate. They are required to collect the tax on bags from customers during checkout. The tax would not be applicable to plastic produce bags, it said.

The City Council will ramp up efforts to distribution programs for those community members who might struggle to afford reusable bags. The Sierra Club has already expressed its willingness to continue its bag distribution efforts in partnership with city and county officials and other community organizations.

The tax collected will be utilized to fund reusable bags, provide education and awareness on reducing environmental waste, help efforts to mitigate pollution and litter and fund cleanup activities.