Batavia’s single-use bag fee generates nearly $200,000 in first year

Shoppers in Batavia can save some change by bringing reusable bags to the grocery store, while those who choose single-use bags contribute to the city’s green initiatives.

Batavia imposed a 10-cent fee for single-use bags at select retailers on July 1, 2023, to promote reusable bags and use the revenues to fund green programs in the city.

The city required 18 stores to participate and charge 10 cents for each single-use bag purchased at their business. In the first year, from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, the 18 participating stores sold 3,239,711 single-use bags for $323,971.10.

At a committee meeting tonight, Sept. 10, city staff and council members will review revenues from the first year and discuss potential uses of the funds and programs supported by these revenues.

Of the $323,971.10 in total bag fees, participating businesses received $129,588.44 in administrative costs, with the city seeing a total revenue of $194,382.70, just under the $200,000 that staff projected the fee to generate.

The revenue will fund the following project budgets during the 2025 fiscal year:

‧ Energy audits and rebates: $85,000

‧ Education campaign: $20,000

‧ Reusable bags: $15,000

˖ Basin restoration and naturalization: $35,000

˖ Parkway trees: $20,000

‧ Program administration: $20,000