Local governments across Virginia may be getting the ability to impose taxes on plastic bags.
Paper or plastic? That’s a question that might get more complicated if Delegate Alfonso Lopez of Arlington gets his way. He has a bill that would allow local governments to impose a five-cent tax on plastic bags.
“My bill maintains local authority over the issue," he explains. "Allowing communities to come to their own decisions regarding single-use products while also encouraging communities to take action to protect the environment and keep their neighborhoods clean.”
The association representing grocery stores would rather not deal with a new tax. But if lawmakers want to impose a tax, the association says, they should do it statewide to prevent a patchwork of different approaches that disrupt the supply chain. And if they tax plastic bags, Parker Slaybaugh with the Virginia Food Industry Association says they should tax paper bags.
“The fear that we have with singling out plastic bags right now and pushing more people to use paper bags is paper bags are not friendly to the environment also,” Slaybaugh says.
Paper bags require more energy and water to produce, he says, and the process creates more pollutants. That’s why he’s hoping a separate bill on the Senate side creates a statewide tax on plastic bags and paper bags. Of course, the main complaint against plastic bags is that they are not biodegradable.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.
