Plastic shopping bags, disposable; local option to distribute to consumers. (SB193)
Introduced By
Sen. Mamie Locke (D-Hampton) with support from co-patrons Del. Betsy Carr (D-Richmond), Del. Cia Price (D-Newport News), Del. Debra Rodman (D-Henrico), and Sen. Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth)
Progress
✓ |
Introduced |
✗ |
Passed Committee |
☐ |
Passed House |
☐ |
Passed Senate |
☐ |
Signed by Governor |
☐ |
Became Law |
Description
Disposable plastic shopping bags; local option. Allows any locality by ordinance to prohibit the distribution, sale, or offer for sale of disposable plastic shopping bags to consumers. The bill exempts from any such prohibition reusable bags of a certain thickness; bags that are used to carry certain products, such as ice cream or newspapers; and garbage bags that are sold in multiples. Read the Bill »
Status
01/23/2018: Failed to Pass in Committee
History
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| 01/01/2018 | Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/18 18102642D |
| 01/01/2018 | Referred to Committee on Local Government |
| 01/08/2018 | Impact statement from DHCD (SB193) |
| 01/09/2018 | Impact statement from DHCD (SB193) |
| 01/23/2018 | Continued to 2019 in Local Government (13-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
Comments
Yes! This is much needed legislation. Thank you!
The Friends of Accotink Creek encourage all Virginia legislators to support the work of their many constituents who participate in stream cleanups by supporting SB193 (and SB139 and HB981) to control the sale of disposable plastic bags. We strongly endorse and support efforts like this to reduce trash in local watersheds.
Each year Friends of Accotink Creek and other civic groups mobilize volunteers who clean tons of plastic bags and containers, as well as other trash and debris, from streams that feed into the Chesapeake Bay. Across the United States, millions of tons of plastic waste is washed from streets into waterways, fouling waters for both marine life and human usage.
Reducing consumer consumption of plastic bags, by means of bans, restrictions, and/or taxes, is an effective way to reduce the amount of plastic trash that enters our watersheds, and flows downstream to the Potomac River, and the Chesapeake Bay. Besides being an eyesore and a burden to remove, this noxious litter refuses to go away, only breaking down into toxic particles that will be with us forever.