Fairfax County’s plastic bag tax has pulled in more than $6 million in revenue and taken an estimated 3 million plastic bags out of circulation nearly two years after it was enacted, county officials say.
“There are 3 million fewer plastic bags in circulation in Fairfax County since the bag tax was enacted, which 100% shows the intention is working,” Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said during an environmental committee meeting last Tuesday (Dec. 10).
The five-cent tax, which went into effect on Jan. 1, 2022, applies to disposable plastic bags provided at grocery stores, convenience stores and drug stores. Under Virginia law, the revenue must go to specific initiatives aimed at environmental education, pollution mitigation, litter cleanup and reusable bags for low-income residents.
In a Dec. 2 memo, county staff reported that more than $2 million was allocated to waste reduction and sustainability projects during the fiscal year 2023 carryover and fiscal year 2024 third quarter review periods from September 2023 through April 2024.
Almost half the funding — $930,000 — went to Operation Stream Shield, a program that pays individuals experiencing homelessness to remove litter from waterways and public spaces. Other projects include composting initiatives at farmers markets, storm drain labeling and recycling toolkits for multifamily housing communities.
The tax has also funded pilot programs, including latex paint recycling to divert paint from landfills and battery recycling through partnerships with local hardware stores. In addition, reusable bags and zero-waste training have been provided to underserved areas, including Opportunity Neighborhoods.
Below is a full list of programs funded via the tax.
- Operation Stream Shield: $930,000
- Illegal Sign Removal Program: $360,000
- Latex Paint Recycling Pilot: $200,000
- Recycling and Zero Waste Ambassador Training: $166,500
- Composting at County Farmers Markets: $165,000
- Composting at Non-Profit Farmers Markets: $77,000
- Reusable Giveaways at Farmers Markets: $60,000
- Retail Battery Recycling: $30,000
- Multi-Family Property Recycling Toolkit: $24,035
- CareVan Zero Waste Educational Program: $20,360
- Storm Drain Education and Labeling Program: $12,452
- Zero Waste Educational Giveaways: $11,040
- UFMD Reusable Bags: $10,000
- Metal Storm Drain Label Project: $5,000
- FCPA Anti-Littering Campaign: $2,200
- Bandalong and StormX Trash Collection Maintenance: $2,000
At the committee meeting, Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw noted that, based on current data, the county is on track to reach nearly 4 million plastic bags taken out of circulation by the end of this year.
“That’s not just fewer plastic bags being used, that’s fewer plastic bags in our streams, in our lakes and in our parks that have been demonstrated in their monitoring efforts,” Walkinshaw said. “So, the plastic bag tax is is working.”
Photo via Christopher Vega/Unsplash
