BALTIMORE, Md — Baltimore County could become the latest place to ban plastic bags in stores and restaurants.
The "Bring Your Own Bag" Act, which was introduced at Tuesday's county council meeting, would ban plastic carryout bags starting Nov. 1, and would require businesses to charge at least 10 cents for a paper or reusable carryout bag.
It would make Baltimore County the second-largest jurisdiction in Maryland to ban plastic bags, after Montgomery County. Baltimore City (the state's fourth-largest jurisdiction) passed a similar ban that went into effectin 2021.
A statewide bag ban was proposed in the General Assembly last year, but didn't pass.
The fee would not apply to customers who use SNAP, food coupons or other state or federal food vouchers.
Businesses who break the law could be fined up to $500. A work session on the bill will be held at 4 p.m. Jan. 10, and a final vote is scheduled for 6 p.m. Jan. 17.
We must do all we can to protect our environment for this generation and the next.
— County Executive Johnny Olszewski (@BaltCoExec) January 3, 2023
My statement on tonight's introduction of "Bring Your Own Bag" legislation: pic.twitter.com/OxbvVt9Lws
RELATED ARTICLE: In Focus: What the plastic bag ban means for Baltimore City
Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski in a statement said it was his responsibility to protect the environment for this generation and the next. He commended the council’s efforts and said he is preparing to provide free reusable bags for Baltimore County residents.
County Councilman Izzy Patoka, who represents northwest Baltimore County, is one of three councilmembers sponsoring the bill; the others are Mike Ertel, who represents the Towson and Parkville areas, and David Marks, who represents the Perry Hall, White Marsh and Middle River areas.
Patoka noted that Baltimore County grocery stores that don't offer plastic bags and charge for other bags have more than 94 percent of their shoppers bringing a reusable bag or not using a bag at all.
"This reduces store overhead and allows those stores to pass on the savings as lower prices for shoppers," he said.
The Maryland chapter of the environmental activist group Sierra Club says Baltimore County residents alone use close to one million plastic bags a day. That’s nearly 365 million bags a year.
Some stores have already begun taking steps toward the Bring Your Own Bag Act. Wegmans has already began charging customers for bags in both Baltimore and Harford County.
