Richmond delegate proposes allowing tax on disposable paper, plastic bags

Local governments would be allowed to place a 5-cent tax on disposable paper and plastic bags under a bill proposed by a Richmond legislator for the 2019 Virginia General Assembly.

The bill sponsored by Democratic Del. Betsy Carr, HB 1669, also would let retailers keep one cent of that tax revenue.

“She received several different requests from constituents and she has a lot of environmental advocates in her district,” Olivia Garrett, Carr’s chief of staff, said. “She [also] wants to help protect the environment herself.”

Although Carr’s bill aims to lower single-use plastic and paper bag use, exemptions include durable plastic bags designed for multiple reuse, plastic bags used for food items, paper and plastic bags used for alcoholic beverages or prescription drugs. Plastic bags intended for use as garbage, pet waste or leaf removal bags also are exempt.

“If you externalize the cost and say ‘Hey this actually costs five cents,’ people are much less likely to request disposable bags,” said Samuel Raasch, deputy director of Clean Fairfax Council., an environmental group. “From a standpoint in behavior change it makes a lot of sense because you’re providing a disincentive toward not using them.”

States such as California and Hawaii have outright plastic bag bans, while cities such as Brownsville, Texas, Portland, Maine and the District of Columbia have bag fees.

Virginia has no statewide legislation banning or taxing disposable bags, but certain retailers – such as Aldi’s – charge customers for disposable bags.

Carr’s bill, which has no co-patrons, is related to other legislation that has not fared well in the assembly.

In 2011, former Del. Joe Morrissey, D-Highland Springs, proposed a similar bill that would have imposed a five-cent tax on plastic bags. The bill died after strong opposition from retail and chemical manufacturers lobbies. Morrissey tried again in 2012, but to no avail after facing heavy backlash from Republicans.

In 2017, Sen. Chap Petersen, D-Fairfax, proposed bill SB-925 which was nearly identical to Del. Carr’s HB-1669. The Senate Finance Committee killed the bill in a 10-4 vote with every Republican voting to kill the measure.

Carr’s bill has been assigned to the House Finance Committee.