AGENDA DATE: 7/17/2024
TITLE:
Title
Disposable Plastic Bag Tax Litter Collection Program Update
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Update to the Board regarding the development of a litter collection program, utilizing revenue generated by the Disposable Plastic Bag Tax
ITEM TYPE: Regular Information Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Wall, Stewart, Dumars, Strother, Mowry
PRESENTER (S): Cai Mowry
LEGAL REVIEW: Not Required
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: On May 4, 2022, the Board of Supervisors approved an Ordinance to impose a disposable plastic bag tax per Virginia Code § 58.1-17.45 through 58.1-1748. The ordinance was effective January 1, 2023, with certain retail stores in Albemarle County being required to charge $0.05 per bag provided to customers at checkout. The tax was implemented to curb the use of disposable plastic bags and encourage the use of reusable bags.
Per the Virginia Code, revenue generated by the Disposable Plastic Bag Tax can only be used for the following purposes: environmental cleanup, 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.
In April of 2023, reusable bags were distributed to eligible recipients from various locations in Albemarle County, including Yancey Community Center, Greenwood Community Center, and the 5th Street County Office Building.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Resilient, Equitable & Engaged Community - Design programs and services that promote an equitable, engaged and climate-resilient community.
DISCUSSION: Staff are in the process of developing a program to collect litter along County roads, reducing the amount of environmentally harmful waste reaching local waterways.
Currently, multiple groups contribute to litter collection efforts along the County rights-of-way, including County mowing contractors (bi-weekly in mowing season), VDOT mowing contractors (typically three times per year in mowing season), and private groups participating in VDOT’s Adopt-a-Highway program (spring and fall). The new program's intent is not to replace existing efforts but to augment them. Those roads will receive additional collection efforts outside of the current cycles. The program will also provide service to many roads not previously included in other programs. Staff hope to begin this new program in the fall of 2024.
BUDGET IMPACT: The litter collection program will utilize revenue generated from the Disposable Plastic Bag Tax.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends the Board receive this presentation as a project update.
ATTACHMENTS:
A - Litter Program Proposal