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- 🐦 Here's what those five cent plastic bags are paying for.
🐦 Here's what those five cent plastic bags are paying for.
Breaking down the Virginia plastic bag tax.
Just Outside DC
March 28, 2024
Good morning, DMV! Happy National Respect Your Cat Day.
Today’s factoid of the day is: Believe it or not, a goldfish can actually distinguish the music of one composer from another composer.
Virginia plastic bag tax generates $4.6M dollars in revenue.
Whether you're at Giant, Safeway, or Harris Teeter -- the five cent plastic bag tax arrives all the same.
I can hear the self-checkout kiosk voice now:
"How many store-provided bags did you use today?"
*shudders*
You forgot your reusable bags at home (despite promising yourself that you wouldn't this time). Now, you're gonna eat that five cent bag tax, on top of your grocery bill that always looks a bit too healthy these days.
In Fairfax County alone, the plastic bag tax raised around $4.6 million dollars between January 2022 and December 2023.
But have you ever stopped and asked yourself:
"What are all of these nickels actually going towards?"
No need to fear. Your friendly neighborhood newsletter is here to pull apart the mystery of those pricy plastic purses.
The state takes these taxes and redistributes the money to the localities they got them from. These jurisdictions are using the funds in various ways. For example:
In Fairfax they pay the homeless to pick up litter.
In Loudoun, they're using the funds to create a new recycling center.
Which project the the money goes towards is decided bi-annually by county officials.
Check out this graphic from Fairfax County that breaks down how the funds were allocated as of last December. If you want to go in-depth on the NoVA plastic bag tax — check out the official website here.
Bulletin Board 📌
FOOD
Roggenart European Bakery & Bistro opens up a new Arlington location
Taste of NoVA tickets are now available for 2024.
DC’s Beer Fest is on for April at Nat’s Park.
A new Shake Shack and Hangry Joe’s popped up recently on Leesburg Pike.
Whitlow’s on Water creates a floating 50-foot long tiki bar.
Ala and Rooted3 opened up new locations in Bethesda recently.
Ted’s Bulletin revamped their menu last week.
EVENTS
The Cherry Blossom Kite Festival is on in DC this weekend!
The Small Business Expo is coming to DC early next month.
Beat the Bot — an AI game show, is playing at DC Improv.
Little Shop of Horrors is playing at Ford’s Theatre.
Capital One Center is having a bunch of Easter festivities on the 30th.
Warwick Village is having their Mega Yard Sale again early next month
A youth BMX racing league is taking place in Woodbridge next month. Parents can register as well!
LIVE MUSIC LOWDOWN
Good Kid is performing in DC next month (fun fact, these guys are also the founders of a $5B AI company called Cohere.
Green Day is performing at Nat’s Park in July.
Shreya Ghoshal performs at Wolf Trap this summer.
Hans Zimmer is gonna be performing in Baltimore later this year.
@JUSTOUTSIDEDC 📸
📍 Federal Triangle
One of our readers, Ben, snapped this pic of a mallard duck cooling off by a fountain in front of the National Gallery of Art — so majestic 🦆
If you’ve got a cool pic from around the DMV area you want to share, feel free send them our way via email or Instagram and we’ll put it in the newsletter!
IN OTHER NEWS 🗞️
Reader Restaurant Recommendation: One of our readers, Yvonne, recommends you guys check out Bear Branch Tavern in Vienna. Fun fact, Bear Branch is competing in the 2024 NoVA Wing War — go vote for them!
If you want us to give you and your favorite NoVA restaurant a shout out in the newsletter, just fill out this form :)
Non-profits: Mackenzie Scott (Amazon) donates $2M to a D.C. organization.
Prince William County: new proposed schools budget includes a teacher pay raise and mental health resources for students.
Alexandria: Youngkin is in hot water over decisions regarding the new arena.
Airports: There are 15 new retailers coming to Dulles and Reagan.
Cherry Blossoms: The story behind D.C’s most beloved tree, “Stumpy”.
A sock burning was held to kick off the start of spring.
Real Estate: A newly built home sold for a near-record price in Cleveland Park.
Scott’s Run: The nature preserve will be closed for six weeks to fix some wastewater pipes.
Your Content Diet — Newsletters from our friends.
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Pediatric Answers - Dr. Monica Wonnacott, pediatrician and mom of four gives you the straight scoop on your child’s health.
Big 4 Transparency - Salary transparency for accounting and finance professionals.
Leadership in Tech - A newsletter for CTOs, engineering managers and senior engineers to become better leaders.
MGMT Playbook - Practical management insights straight to your inbox every Wednesday.
Alex & Books - Become smarter, happier, and wiser with 5-minute book summaries.
Speak for the Heart - Cardiologist Yasmine S. Ali, MD, shows you how how to keep your heart healthy.
The Daily Deposit - A question a day to create conversation that increases intimacy between you and your spouse.
The Veteran’s Wallet - professional government contracting jobs, side hustles, and ways to grow your income.
Thank You!
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See ya next time, Team Just Outside D.C. 🗞️ |  |
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