Richmond proposes plastic bag tax, balloon release ban as part of environmental push

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The City of Richmond is weighing new sustainability measures this Earth Month, aiming to reduce waste and protect the environment.

Three proposals will be presented at a city council meeting sometime in April, said Richmond’s Director of Sustainability Laura Thomas.

This includes a five-cent plastic bag tax, enforcement of an existing state law banning balloon releases and enforcing a polystyrene -- or styrofoam -- ban for food retailers.

"All this plastic and all this litter is really devastating to our environment and to our infrastructure,” Thomas said. “It's a tax savings to the community, as well.”

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Thomas said that, if approved by city council, the revenue generated from the plastic bag tax would fund local environmental cleanup efforts.

"I feel like it's a great start to moving away from plastic bags,” said Richmond resident Grace Klich. “I've always hated them.”

However, not everyone supports the measure. Some residents worry the added cost will disproportionately affect lower-income families.

“I'm against that,” said Richmonder Bryana Ferrell. “Imagine if a single mother — I grew up with a single mom — so imagine she has to fill a full house. That’s $0.05 each bag.”

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Thomas said at the city council meeting that they will also introduce the reinforcement of an existing state law that bans the intentional release of balloons outdoors. People will be fined $25 per balloon released.

“Those balloons end up deflating and they deflate into the environment,” Thomas said. “They get into our parks, they get into our waterways, they clog up our system.”

The third measure would enforce another existing state law: banning polystyrene containers used by food retailers with 20 or more locations statewide. It is targeted towards prepared, but not pre-packaged, food items.

"You would no longer be able to have beverages or other sandwiches or other items provided to you in a Styrofoam container or cup," Thomas said.

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This restriction will expand to include all businesses statewide one year after the initial rollout, she said.

If the plastic bag tax is passed, Thomas said Richmond would join ten other Virginia localities that have already enacted similar measures.