Advocacy Campaign Workgroups

$0.05 Plastic Grocery Bag Fee

Under Virginia law, cities and counties are allowed to enact a $0.05 fee on plastic grocery bags. We support this fee to encourage reuse options, reduce plastic pollution, and fund ecological restoration and beautification projects.

  • Effective January 1, 2021, Virginia code 58.1-1745. Disposal Plastic Bag Tax says "​Any county or city may, by duly adopted ordinance, impose a tax in the amount of five cents ($0.05) for each disposable plastic bag provided, whether or not provided free of charge, to a consumer of tangible personal property by retailers in grocery stores, convenience stores, or drugstores." 

    It is up to each Virginia city and county to pass this ordinance, and we operate as grassroots organizers to help localities pass this fee. We also call the $0.05 charge a fee rather than a tax, because if customers opt not to take a bag or bring their own, they can avoid the fee, whereas a tax is unavoidable. 

    Under the Virginia code, revenue generated from the bag fee must be used for ecological restoration and beautification or equity initiatives:
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    "All revenue accruing to the county or city from a tax imposed under the provisions of this article shall be appropriated for the purposes of environmental cleanup, providing education programs designed to reduce environmental waste, mitigating pollution and litter, or providing reusable bags to recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC) benefits."

    ​More information and guidelines can be found here.

  • We believe that a $0.05 fee on plastic grocery bags is the best currently available legal tool to reduce plastic bag litter.

    We operate as grassroots organizers to share resources, coordinate efforts, and raise awareness on the issue.

  • Anyone who is interested in passing a plastic bag fee in their city or county, or who can share their story and offer advice from a locality that has already passed the bag fee

    Email joseph@cleanvirginiawaterways.org for the meeting link.

  • First Wednesday of each month

    10:30am - 11:30am

    Email joseph@cleanvirginiawaterways.org for the meeting link

Foam Phaseout

This campaign has officially wrapped up, but please read below for details on why we initiated this foam-free campaign, and visit our Foam Phaseout webpage under the “Education” tab for continuing resources and information!

Thank you for a successful campaign!

As of July 1, 2026, all food distributors, including restaurants, food trucks, and school cafeterias, will be required to remove expanded polystyrene (EPS) food ware from their establishment. We aim to equip these facilities with the tools and resources to eliminate EPS seamlessly, affordably, and sustainably while involving their customers in a smooth transition.

  • Expanded polystyrene (foam) is a toxic substance that pollutes our environment. We support the elimination of EPS, but recognize that replacements can cost a little more. We want to support food retailers and distributors in finding eco-friendly products, saving money, and ensuring their customers and engaged and happy and ready to return!

  • Anyone interested in conducting outreach to restaurants, schools, and food retailers!

    Email joseph@cleanvirginiawaterways.org for the meeting link.

  • Second Friday of each month

    12:30pm - 1:30pm

    Email joseph@cleanvirginiawaterways.org for the meeting link

  • For information on the EPS resources, visit https://www.cleanvirginiawaterways.org/foam-phase-out