FAQs • Charlottesville, VA • CivicEngage

Why is this Plastic Bag Tax important?: Pollution from single-use plastics is extremely harmful to our land and waterways and poses a threat to the health of humans and animals alike. Plastic bags have a useful life that is often no more than minutes, yet this plastic can last in the environment for hundreds of years or more. Plastics contain harmful chemicals and never truly decompose—instead they break down into smaller pieces called microplastics which are consumed by humans and animals through our food and water sources. This tax will help address these problems by drastically reducing the plastic pollution in our streets, streams, and stormwater system.

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Public Works - Plastic Bag Tax

2. Where does the Plastic Bag Tax take effect?: The City of Charlottesville (Link) and Albemarle County (Link)

4. At which stores does the Plastic Bag Tax apply?: Any grocery store, convenience store, or drugstore located within Charlottesville City Limits and Albemarle County. Larger retailers that contain a grocery store, convenience store, or drugstore are also subject to the tax. The store must maintain regular business hours at a fixed place of business in the City. This includes in-store purchases, to-go purchases, delivery purchases, and curbside pick-up purchases from its establishments within City limits.

Paper bags available at checkout are not taxed.
Self-supplied containers like reusable bags, boxes or baskets, are not taxed.
Plastic bags that are solely used to wrap, contain, or package ice cream, meat, fish, poultry, produce, unwrapped bulk food items, or perishable food items in order to avoid damage or contamination.
Plastic bags used to carry dry cleaning or prescription drugs
Multiple plastic bags sold in packages and intended for use as garbage, pet waste, or leaf removal bags

6. Will I be required to pay the Plastic Bag Tax if I bring my own bags to shop?: No, you will not need to pay the tax if you bring your own reusable bags or other containers.

7. Will the City provide reusable bags to those who cannot afford them?: Yes, the City will provide reusable bags to recipients of SNAP and WIC beneficiaries.

8. Can the plastic bag tax be paid for with EBT cards for SNAP or WIC recipients?: No, the state’s grocery bag fees may not be paid for with SNAP or WIC benefits. In addition, the Food and Nutrition Service does not have authority to exempt SNAP or WIC clients from this fee. Therefore, grocery bag fees must be paid for using cash, credit card, or non-SNAP or WIC debit.

9. Why is this Plastic Bag Tax important?: Pollution from single-use plastics is extremely harmful to our land and waterways and poses a threat to the health of humans and animals alike. Plastic bags have a useful life that is often no more than minutes, yet this plastic can last in the environment for hundreds of years or more. Plastics contain harmful chemicals and never truly decompose—instead they break down into smaller pieces called microplastics which are consumed by humans and animals through our food and water sources. This tax will help address these problems by drastically reducing the plastic pollution in our streets, streams, and stormwater system.

10. What does the Plastic Bag Tax money fund?: Environmental cleanup programs, providing education programs designed to reduce environmental waste, mitigating pollution and litter, providing reusable bags to recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC) benefits

11. Are single-use, plastic bags more hygienic than reusable bags?: There is no conclusive evidence that plastic bags are more hygienic than reusable bags. While some studies have shown bacterial growth on unwashed reusable bags, this bacteria is not usually harmful to humans, like most of the bacteria on surfaces around your home. While the risk of food-borne illnesses from reusable bags is extremely small, regularly washing your bags is recommended.

12. Can't you recycle plastic bags?: Only about 1% of plastic bags are properly recycled today. Many communities don’t accept plastic bags in curbside recycling because they jam and damage the sorting machinery. As a result, most plastic bags end up in landfills, incinerated, or polluting the environment.

13. Where can I find the guidelines and additional information regarding the Virginia Plastic Bag Tax program??: To contact the Department of Taxation, please visit the Department's website at tax.virginia.gov (LINK) or contact the Department at (804) 367-8037.