Fairfax County: Speak up to ban plastic yard waste bags!

Anne Arundel County, Md.

Yard waste bagged for pickup (Photo courtesy of Matt Rath/Chesapeake Bay Program)

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Thank you to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors who passed the prohibition on plastic yard waste bags on Tuesday, February 24, 2021 in a vote of 9 to 1.
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On Tuesday, February 23rd at 4pm, Fairfax County will be holding a public hearing on the topic of prohibiting the use plastic bags for yard waste collection. Over the last year, the County has thoughtfully executed an education and outreach plan to communities and residents to make this transition as smooth as possible.

Currently, collected yard waste across the county goes to a composting facility. At the facility, the bags holding the yard waste, be they paper or plastic, all get shredded and mixed into the compost. Through this process, plastic makes its way into our soils, water supply, and eventually to us. But this ordinance amendment would prohibit the use of plastic bags, thus creating a safer and healthier compost product. 

However, there is opposition to this change in that it could cause inconvenience and added costs to residents. Given the alternatives provided, this ordinance need not do either. The County has provided several alternatives ranging from mulching leaves and yard waste back into the soil, to using paper bags or reusable containers. 

Want to learn more?

There are two ways you can get your voice heard: 

  1. Submit written comments
    Scroll down and click the red “START WRITING” button to submit your comments now!
  2. Sign up to speak live via phone
    It’s easier than ever to do this. Simply fill out and submit this form to sign up. The “Date of public hearing” is “2/23/21”, the “Application number or subject” is “Amendments to the County’s Solid Waste Management Ordinance, Chapter 109.1, to prohibit the use of plastic bags for yard waste”, and the “Time of hearing” is “4pm”.

    You’ll get a confirmation via email which you’ll need to read and respond to. Then, on Feb. 23rd at 4pm or later (depending on the order of public hearings that day), you will get a call from the County and you will be given 3 min. to speak. All from the comfort of your home!

Haven’t given live testimony before? This is a great opportunity to dive in. The proposed change is straightforward, has a clear ecological win with good alternatives, and the transition has been in process for a year.

Your voice as a resident is important to get heard!

About Renee Grebe

Renee is the Northern Virginia Conservation Advocate at ANS.
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