More than 300 U.S. cities are in the process of partially or fully banning plastic bags. Northern Virginia residents are hoping Fairfax is next on the list. 

There’s a growing trend, across the country to ban or tax single-use plastic bags. According to reusethisbag.com, a plastic bag has a 12-minute lifespan from the time it’s initially filled to the time it’s discarded. Those same plastic bags can take 10 to 1,000 years to decompose. In an effort to solve the problem members of 350 Fairfax are encouraging residents to take part in their 30-day plastic-free challenge beginning October 1st. 

“It’s being reported that only 1%-3% of these single-use plastic bags ever get recycled. At this point we have six times as much plastic in the ocean as plankton and it’s estimated that by 2050 there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish,” said Helene Shore, Co-Founder of 350 Fairfax.  

“I really can’t stand seeing pictures of poor sea animals all tangled up in plastic, or the whales eating it,” said Bobby Monacella, member of 350 Fairfax. “We’re one of the biggest counties in the state or in the county and I think we can have a big impact on this plastic pollution problem,” she added.  

350 Fairfax will hold a forum to discuss further details at the Great Falls library on Saturday at 10 a.m.