Fighting Trash in the Anacostia: the DC Plastic Bag Fee

In January 2010, Washington DC became the first city in the U.S. to implement a user fee on disposable plastic and paper bags – a 5 cent charge per bag – to fund cleanup of the Anacostia River, where plastic bag pollution is a major problem.  Anacostia Riverkeeper was part of a huge community effort to pass the measure, and we will continue to work to protect the Anacostia River Cleanup Fund and promote its success.

Anacostia Riverkeeper and a coalition of environmental groups provided expertise for DC Councilman Tommy Wells in the development of the Anacostia River Cleanup and Protection Act of 2009, which was passed unanimously by the Council and signed into law by the Mayor.  Given that plastic bags make up almost half of the trash in the Anacostia, this program, which bans non-recyclable plastic bags and puts a user fee on others, encourages customers to reduce their consumption and raises cleanup funds at the same time.

With her science and religion background and expertise, Riverkeeper Dottie Yunger engaged the faith community in this environmental justice issue, bringing together clergy and Councilman Wells to discuss various river cleanup initiatives.  With the bill passed, Anacostia Riverkeeper is distributing 500 cloth bags to District residents.

Why plastic bags?

Plastic bags from grocery stores, liquor stores and carryout restaurants are a major source of pollution for the Anacostia River – they make up almost half the trash in the river.  Placing this small fee has helped to reduce plastic bag consumption – decreasing the litter that reaches the River overall – and provided funds to clean up a badly polluted water source.

The Anacostia River Cleanup and Protection Act of 2009 requires stores that sell food to charge 5 cents per disposable bag at the point of purchase.  1 cent of the fee goes to the store – 2 cents if they offer an incentive to customers bringing their own reusable bags – and the remainder of the fee goes directly to the Anacostia River Cleanup Fund.

Is it working?

Already we can see that the program has reduced disposable bag use and generated revenue for the Fund – stores in DC reported an overall 50-80% decrease in demand for bags in the first month, and that month also generated $150,000 for the Fund.

Where exactly does the money go?

The original purpose of the Fund is to reduce trash problems in the Anacostia.  There are several strategies for accomplishing this goal, including public education, installation of trash traps and city-wide recycling containers, community cleanup events, and monitoring pollution on the River.

The first goal of the Fund was accomplished right when the program began: free reusable bags were made available to residents, with an outreach campaign to distribute free reusable bags to seniors and low-income households.

Ultimately, the District Department of the Environment decides the use of the Anacostia River Cleanup Fund.  Earlier this year, Mayor Fenty proposed to change the fund’s purpose by moving it from DDOE to the Department of Public Works so it could fund existing programs.  His plan would also have eliminated reusable bag distribution to needy residents.

Fortunately, local residents and community groups and the DC Council rejected Mayor Fenty’s proposal.  Implementation of the Cleanup Fund has not yet begun, but with continued support from the community, we can protect this important, innovative program to cleanup the Anacostia!

Partners:

Councilman Tommy Wells

Friends of the Earth

Sierra Club

Anacostia Watershed Society

Surfrider Foundation (DC Chapter)

www.TrashFreeAnacostia.com

District Department of the Environment Trash Reduction Plan http://ddoe.dc.gov/ddoe/cwp/view,a,1209,q,499180.asp

Anacostia Watershed Society http://www.anacostiaws.org/news/blogs/dcs-new-bag-bill-went-effect-january-1