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Richmond adopts 5¢ disposable plastic bag fee, effective Jan. 1, 2026
Summary
The Richmond City Council voted 8–1 to approve an ordinance imposing a 5¢ fee on disposable bags at grocery, drug and convenience stores; revenue is limited by state law to environmental cleanup, litter reduction, education and reusable bags for SNAP and WIC recipients.
The Richmond City Council on Monday voted to adopt an ordinance imposing a 5¢ fee on disposable plastic bags distributed at grocery stores, drugstores and convenience stores, effective Jan. 1, 2026.
Council members said the measure is intended to reduce litter and stormwater impacts while funding environmental cleanup and programs to distribute reusable bags to SNAP and WIC participants.
The ordinance requires a 5¢ charge per bag. Of that amount, 4¢ per bag will flow to the city and 1¢ per bag may be retained by the retailer, according to Laura Thomas, director of the Office of Sustainability.
“[The fee] is in an effort to help reduce chronic litter that we're seeing throughout the community, reduce the impact on our critical stormwater and water infrastructure, to help reduce capital maintenance costs, and to improve the overall…
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