Youngkin Reverses Northam-Era Single-Use Plastics Ban

By WMAL.com

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has put an end to what he deemed the “burdensome” ban on single-use plastics within state agencies and public universities. The ban was initially implemented by Governor Ralph Northam and outlawed the use of water bottles, straws, plastic cutlery, disposable bags among other single-use items.

Younkin signed the executive order on Thursday reversing the ban initiated by his predecessor Gov. Northam. While environmental groups like the Sierra Club were quick to criticize the executive order, Youngkin made it clear that this decision also came with provisions encouraging recycling and reducing food waste in the Commonwealth.

“Too often in the past, Virginia has been presented with a false choice between saving our environment and growing our economy. The growing market for post-consumer recyclables demonstrates that we can do both,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “We need to bridge that disconnect to better conserve our natural resources, reduce waste that goes out to landfills and promote new clean energy jobs here in Virginia. We should be focusing our resources and energy on providing a cleaner supply of recyclable materials.”

Click here to read the executive order.