One day in the future, single-use plastic bags will be nonexistent in Henrico. At least that’s the hope of Bob Shippee, Mark Deutsch, and Romy Sharieff, coordinators of the Say No to Plastic Bags Campaign in Henrico County.
“We would like to see single use plastic of all kinds go away,” says Shippee, who is running for state delegate in 2023.
To help curb the use of plastic bags, the General Assembly passed a law in 2021 allowing jurisdictions to impose a five cent fee on single-use plastic bags. Other states and countries that have already seen success by imposing a fee to impact consumer use include Maine, Delaware, Hawaii, Vermont, the United Kingdom and the European Union. Currently, single-use grocery bag plastics are the most littered item in Henrico County. Take-out containers, lids, and plastic bottles are also on the list.
A study in Washington, DC, showed a 60 percent reduction in use within six months and a 72 percent reduction in plastic bag litter. The UK saw similar results.
Today, more than 90 percent of single-use plastics end up in landfills. Ten million tons of plastic are dumped in our oceans annually, which is equal to more than a garbage truck load every minute. From beginning to end, plastics create toxins, poison the environment and hurt wildlife. “There is a misconception that recycling alone is the solution. However, approximately 1 percent of single-use plastic bags are recycled, and the focus needs to be on reducing dependence of plastics,” Sharieff says.
The potential impact of the five cent charge in Henrico County is estimated to reduce the number of bags in landfills by 109 million bags. By 2023, more than 152 million bags would be eliminated per year.
“However, there is insufficient support by the board of supervisors to pass the ordinance. In conjunction with Keep Henrico Beautiful, an educational campaign is underway to raise awareness of the impact of unchecked single-use plastic causes,” Sharieff says.
Already, some grocery stores such as Wegmans, Trader Joe’s, and Whole Foods are moving away from single use plastic bags, giving customers the option to use reusable bags instead. Through its zero-waste initiative, Kroger has piloted removing single-use plastic bags from the grocery retailer’s Short Pump location.
To combat the problem of single use plastic bags, the Say No to Plastic Bags Campaign, supported by Rotary Club of Western Henrico County, the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Richmond, and the Foundation for Family and Community Healing, will distribute free reusable bags on November 12 at five locations in the Henrico County while supplies last. (See sidebar for locations).
“This will be step one,” says Shippee. “The organizers are coordinating efforts with a board supervisor to expand the educational campaign through Keep Henrico Beautiful, and to partner with local businesses to reduce single use plastic bag dependence in the county.”
The campaign slogan “Save a turtle – say no to plastic bags” helps consumers to understand the importance of why single use plastics are an issue and what individuals can do to make a difference. “Small changes can have a ripple effect. Each person makes a difference — one decision at a time,” says Sharieff.
Reusable bags will be handed out from approximately 8 a.m. to noon (while supplies last), at the following Kroger locations:
- Gayton Crossing (1356 Gaskins Rd Richmond, VA 23238):
- West Broad (9480 W Broad St Henrico, VA 23294):
- Short Pump (11895 W Broad St Richmond, VA 23233):
- Staples Mill Marketplace (9000 Staples Mill Road Henrico, VA 23228):
- Laburnum (4816 S Laburnum Ave Richmond, VA 23231):
