What can You do about Plastic Bags and Recycling?

Alexandria, VA – The market for single use plastics is disappearing. They are being incinerated as waste to energy, a process that contributes to climate change. There is no viable reuse for single-use plastic bags. While other stores may still collect plastic bags – it is disingenuous to think they will be recycled going forward.

The best answer is simply to reduce the use of these plastics. Did you know that an estimated 3 BILLION plastic bags are used in Virginia each year? Legislation has been introduced in the Virginia General Assembly in 2020 to place a 5-cent fee on plastic bags, including one bill sponsored by Senator Adam Ebbin.  1Planet (a local climate advocacy organization that hosted a “recycle right” forum last February) is sponsoring a petition to show support for this measure.