A 5-cent plastic fee? Environmental groups hope Virginia Beach will consider one

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Environmental teams hope that within the subsequent a number of months, you’ll have to pay a price with the intention to perform your groceries in plastic luggage in Virginia Seaside.

Lynnhaven River Now could be main up the coalition that on Tuesday made a pitch to Virginia Seaside Metropolis Council to implement a 5-cent price per disposable plastic bag at grocery, drug and comfort shops.

The aim is to discourage using plastic luggage whereas additionally higher funding the cleanup of plastic luggage that also make their strategy to the seashores, waterways, and parks of town.

If Metropolis Council does undertake the proposal, it’ll be the primary locality in Hampton Roads to take action because the Virginia Normal Meeting allowed for the brand new price in 2020.

“We needed to behave in 2020,” Karen Overlook, the chief director of Lynnhaven River Now stated. “On the time in COVID-19, we didn’t assume it was truthful to retailers however now we really feel it’s time.”

Overlook stated single-use plastic luggage are among the many mostly littered objects in Virginia Seaside and the state. She stated they’re threatening ecosystem well being and creating eyesores.

For these involved about further burdens throughout a interval of inflation, she stated that customers are at the moment paying for the value of plastic luggage of their procuring already. She additionally provides that taxpayers are normally those paying for the cleanup.

Below state regulation, the vast majority of cash raised by the price will return to town and should help environmental cleanup, litter and air pollution mitigation or environmental training efforts. The town might use funds to supply reusable luggage to recipients of SNAP or WIC advantages.

The price wouldn’t be imposed on meat and produce luggage in grocery shops. It additionally wouldn’t influence farmers’ markets, eating places and malls .

Jim Deppe, who leads Lynnhaven River Now Advocacy efforts, stated outcomes have already been seen within the state in different communities. Roanoke, Fairfax County, Alexandria, Arlington, Loudoun County, Fredericksburg, Falls Church and Albemarle County have all applied the price.

“In Fairfax County, up to now they’ve two-quarters value of knowledge … they’ve seen a 70 to 80% discount in luggage of their city streams and waterways. Which is important,” Deppe stated.

Councilman Man Tower plans to sponsor the decision to implement the price within the coming months.

No different council members commented on the proposal.