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Leesburg staff eyes county partnership on bag‑tax funds; food‑waste composting proposed for downtown businesses
Summary
Staff said state attempts to localize the plastic bag tax were vetoed in recent years and that the county offered partnership funding for pilot waste projects; staff proposed using money for a downtown food‑waste composting pilot to reduce tip fees and landfill disposals.
Town staff briefed commissioners on the town’s multi‑year effort to seek a share of proceeds from the county’s plastic bag tax and on a new county offer to fund pilot projects instead of pursuing state legislation.
Staff said past state legislation that would have opened the bag tax to towns passed the legislature but was vetoed in back‑to‑back years. Because pursuing state legislation again would be lengthy and uncertain, staff said county leaders proposed partnering with towns to direct county‑collected bag‑tax revenue to pilot projects in municipalities.
Staff suggested using funds for targeted pilots such as a downtown food‑waste composting program for businesses; the presentation noted composting could reduce the town’s tip‑fee costs because the town currently pays to send food waste to landfill. Staff emphasized county money must be used for waste‑related project pilots and generally cannot fund ongoing personnel costs.
Staff also described other small ideas discussed at recent events, including a community cork‑collection program and a TerraCycle‑style takeback for flexible food packaging; staff said those would likely be pilot‑scale and that the county fund amounts are modest.
Why it matters: if the county commits bag‑tax revenue to local pilots, Leesburg could fund short‑term projects to divert organics and other difficult‑to‑recycle streams without waiting for new state law. Staff said the county’s distribution of funds is expected to be project based and not a recurring long‑term revenue source.
Next steps: staff asked commissioners for ideas and said they will continue negotiations with county staff about eligible pilot uses and funding levels; staff estimated county funds available to the town would be modest and one‑time in nature.
Ending: Commissioners were asked to forward ideas by email; no formal action or commitment to a specific pilot was taken at the meeting.
