Update – The County Board will be voting on an ordinance to adopt a plastic tax at its Saturday, September 18 meeting.
Let the County Board know you support the plastic bag tax by sending an email to countyboard@arlingtonva.us (see sample email) or consider speaking out at the September 18 meeting virtually or in-person (register to speak here)
Read the September 14, 2021 letter sent to the County Board in support of the plastic bag tax by EcoAction Arlington, Sierra Club’s Potomac River Group, and the Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions Arlington Hub.
Update – On February 19, 2021, EcoAction Arlington submitted a list of signatories to the petition to Arlington County Board Chair Matt de Ferranti with this letter. Thank you to everyone who signed–we collected a total of 1,482 signatures*!
We are no longer collecting signatures but urge you to join our e-newsletter list to stay apprised. We offer subscriptions to both our e-newsletter with news about local events and the EcoAdvocate, a monthly overview of opportunities to influence elected officials and leaders on Arlington and Virginia policy.
* The number of signatories below is higher because of duplicate entries.
Why should I sign this petition?
Plastic bags present a great threat to the planet, as well as our local Arlington community. They litter our streets and parks, and threaten our water quality and wildlife. They also contaminate our soil, landfills and groundwater with harmful chemicals. Across the country, plastic bag regulations are continually evolving to help decrease these risks. Presently, 471 local ordinances have been adopted in cities and counties across 28 states. We believe Arlington should be the next county to take this important step forward.
At EcoAction Arlington, we are committed to reducing our impact on the planet, through the education and betterment of our community. As part of our Plastic Bag Educational Campaign, we are seeking signatures on the petition below in support of the adoption of a $0.05 tax on plastic bags for Arlington County, as allowed under SB11, which was signed by Governor Northam in April. This tax will encourage Arlington County residents to shift to more sustainable practices, such as utilizing reusable bags.
Please join us in urging the Arlington County board to enact a plastic bag tax.
I support the adoption of a $0.05 tax on plastic bags for Arlington County as allowed under the recently passed SB 11. Plastic bags are a scourge to our environment. They litter our streets and open spaces, threaten water quality and wildlife, and contaminate our soil, landfills, and groundwater with harmful chemicals. The plastic bag tax will encourage residents to shift to more sustainable, reusable bags and provide funds to support efforts such as environmental cleanups, public education on reducing waste and pollution, and distribution of reusable bags to those who cannot afford them.