As Richmond finalizes plastic bag tax, Petersburg debates its own

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The city of Petersburg is now considering a tax on plastic bags -- a move Richmond has already approved.

Starting on Jan. 1, 2026, shoppers in Richmond will be required to pay five cents at grocery stores if they want a plastic bag.

Meanwhile, Petersburg city officials held a public hearing on Tuesday, Nov. 18 to discuss a similar tax.

"The average Richmonder actually uses seven plastic bags -- and, every single week, that equates to 80 million bags across the city," said Laura Thomas, Richmond’s Director of Sustainability. "And many of those, unfortunately, end up littering our environment."

Epstein survivors could encourage other victims of abuse to come forward

Thomas said the five-cent tax is designed to reduce that environmental impact. She notes that a total of 12 communities in Virginia have already implemented similar taxes -- and Petersburg could be next.

Petersburg officials heard strong opinions from residents during Tuesday's hearing on the proposal.

“We already have higher food costs -- now we are bringing forward ... a tax on bags,” one resident said.

Other residents asked questions about the operational details of the tax.

“What about self-checkout? Have you thought about that?” one attendee asked.

City council members said they are following state code.

VA Dems unveil policy priorities, including raising minimum wage, protecting abortion rights

"All revenue accruing to the city or county imposed under the provisions of this tax 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 [the] Women, Infants and Children program, WIC," one city councilor said.

With many questions still unanswered, the Petersburg City Council tabled the ordinance until January 2026. If approved, the tax would take effect 95 days after the vote, according to council members.

In Richmond, Thomas said four pennies of the five-cent tax will benefit the city, while the remaining penny goes back to the business.

“It’s really important that we’re seeing this change spread across the state, because the more municipalities that start, the bigger the cumulative impact is,” Thomas said.