Ask an Expert: Why is plastic pollution increasing in Virginia?
While plastic pollution falls in DC and Maryland, Virginia is seeing more—here’s why
photo by Ramin Bahrani via flickr
Want a mind boggling piece of trivia? People use 500 billion plastic bags every year. That’s more than a million bags every minute.
It’s no secret that our addiction to disposable bags and one-time-use plastics is overwhelming our waterways, both locally and globally. It’s polluting our drinking water and threatening wildlife.
The good news is that the tide may finally be turning on plastic pollution. Growing public support for plastic bag fees, foam bans, and efforts to eliminate plastic straws are cutting down on local waste that enters the Potomac and Anacostia rivers, and eventually flows downstream to the Chesapeake Bay and the ocean.
But how is our region moving forward in the fight against plastic pollution?
A Birds Nest In Maryland Made With Plastic bags and Wrappers. Photo by will Parsons/Chesapeake bay Program.
DC and Maryland are leading the way for a plastic-free future
In 2019, DC became the second major city in the US (or was it the first?) to ban plastic straws. The Anacostia River watershed was one of the first in the nation to go Styrofoam free and Maryland recently became the first state in the nation to pass a Styrofoam ban.
As for the pesky plastic bag, a number of local municipalities in Maryland and the District long ago enacted fees to curb the use of disposable plastic bags. Now Maryland is considering a state-wide ban - which would ease the headache for businesses with multiple locations throughout the state.
Local policies are truly having a positive impact on the Potomac River:
The amount of Styrofoam litter recorded on the Anacostia River, a tributary to the Potomac, has dropped from 22 percent to 4 percent of overall trash found in the river following the ban, according to Anacostia Watershed Society.
The number of plastic bags found at DC cleanups has dropped since 2007, according to data from the Alice Ferguson Foundation.
Northern Virginia is lagging behind in efforts to curb plastic pollution
With so much local momentum around combating the plastic pollution problem, you might be surprised to learn that Northern Virginia is actually lagging behind.
There are no plastic fees or bans (yet!) in Arlington, Alexandria, or Fairfax County, and it’s showing. While the number of plastic bags found at DC cleanups is dropping, bags found in Virginia are rising.
What’s holding Virginia back?
Curbing plastics through local bans is uniquely difficult in Virginia thanks in large measure to a rule that favors the state’s authority.
Virginia is what’s known as a Dillon Rule state, meaning most rights are reserved for the state government. Local governments are seen as extensions of the state. So when it comes to laws having to do with taxation or finances, unless a power is expressly granted by the state government, counties and cities can’t enact a law that would grant them more authority.
Authority to, say, limit plastic bags or impose extra taxes or fees. If they do, the state could modify or revoke the law.
In comparison, Maryland is more of a Home Rule state, which grants more autonomy and authority to local governments. Counties and cities have more range to govern themselves separately, and it’s not necessary for the entire state legislature to agree on legislation that may only be a priority for certain areas.
What’s the latest?
There have been a number of bills put forth in the Virginia state legislature over the years to grant municipalities the authority to enact bag fees and plastic bans, but so far none have passed.
But there’s reason to be optimistic about the future. Momentum in Virginia is building.
There are currently bills on the table in Virginia to tackle bags. State Senator Chap Peterson has proposed a 5-cent bag fee in areas within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed and State Senator Adam Ebbin has proposed allowing jurisdictions to choose whether or not to impose a fee. While a fee is not an outright ban, such measures have been proven to change consumer behavior and save business owners money.
“I do think every year we get closer, and we get more converts,” explained Jen Cole, Executive Director of Clean Fairfax. “It used to be there were just one or two bills related to plastics, and now there are five or six every year.” (Check out Litter Free Virginia’s legislation tracker for a full list of proposed bills.)
What can you do to help?
GET VOCAL: Contact your elected leaders!
Litter Free Virginia is helping concerned community members take action against plastic.
Click here to join their campaign, get your action toolkit, and learn how to contact your state representatives.
ACT LOCAL: Volunteer at a local cleanup!
Get your hands dirty for clean water with Team Potomac and help us remove plastic litter in your community.
It’s a great way to get outdoors, have fun with your friends, and make a difference in the fight for clean water. Find an upcoming volunteer event at potomac.org/events.