The tax, permitted under Virginia state law, requires retailers to charge 5 cents per plastic bag, with proceeds earmarked for environmental cleanup, litter mitigation, and reusable bag distribution to low-income programs. Proponents, including Chair Randall, have characterized it as ‘voluntary,’ suggesting shoppers can avoid it by bringing reusable bags. However, opponents counter that in practice, it’s a mandatory fee for convenience, effectively taxing everyday grocery runs. Loudoun County Republican Committee Chairman Scott Pio highlighted the irony, noting the county could easily distribute reusable bags to every household using surplus funds rather than extracting millions from taxpayers annually.

Public sentiment echoes this frustration. Residents point out that groceries are already expensive enough amid inflation, and adding even small fees accumulates significant costs for families. The Loudoun GOP has amplified these concerns through social media campaigns, posting videos from past Board meetings where speakers decry the policy as ‘just another tax.’ One recent post garnered attention by questioning why Democrats on the Board push such measures when fiscal prudence could prevail.

Republicans on the Board, Kershner, have consistently voted against expansions of such fees, advocating for reduced government intervention. They argue that Loudoun’s rapid growth demands smarter spending, not nickel-and-diming citizens. The tax is expected to generate around $1 million yearly.

This isn’t Loudoun’s first brush with bag fees; it’s listed among Virginia localities like Fairfax County and Arlington that have implemented similar policies. Yet, with a Republican resurgence in recent elections bolstering opposition voices, the issue has become a flashpoint. Pio and the Loudoun GOP urge residents to contact supervisors and support candidates committed to no new taxes.

As grocery inflation lingers, the plastic bag tax symbolizes broader tensions between environmental goals and economic realities in one of America’s wealthiest counties. Republicans frame it as Democratic overreach, calling for repeal to ease family budgets.

Watch the related video from the Loudoun GOP X post: https://x.com/LoudounGOP/status/2016190762484949062

Source: Field reports and eyewitness accounts.