Anne Arundel & Prince George's Counties' plastic bag bans took effect on January 1st, 2024.
In a move aimed at reducing plastic waste, Anne Arundel & Prince George's ban on plastic bags took effect on January 1st, 2024. Baltimore County's ban took effect on November 1st, 2023. While structured somewhat differently, the intent of the laws are the same - limit the amount of single-use plastic waste derived from shopping bags. Single-use plastics have negative implications in various ways, and single-use bags are one of the worst offenders. According to National Geographic,
Bags that are not recycled end up becoming litter, because they do not biodegrade. In addition to filling up landfills and becoming eyesores, plastic bags that become litter endanger many facets of the environment, including marine life and the food chain. This is because plastic bags, like all plastic materials, eventually break up into microscopic pieces, which scientists refer to as microplastics. Microplastics have been found nearly everywhere: in marine animals, farmland soil, and urban air.
Anne Arundel
Anne Arundel County retailers will no longer be able to provide plastic bags to customers for their purchases at checkout. Retailers can provide paper bags or reusable bags to customers at checkout for purchase.
This law only applies to bags provided at checkout, and does not apply in the City of Annapolis.
This prohibition does not apply to food service facilities operated by a school, nor does it apply to plastic bags used to contain, package, or wrap:
- Bakery goods or unwrapped prepared foods
- Raw meat or seafood
- Bulk items, including fruits, nuts, grains
- Other food items that can only be transported in a plastic bag (i.e. ice)
- Fresh flowers, potted plants, or fresh herbs
- Hanging garments or dry-cleaned clothes
- Live fish, insects, mollusks, or crustaceans
- Cigar or loose tobacco
- Newspapers
Prince George's
The Prince George's ban applies to all retail stores, restaurants, grocery stores, or any other establishment providing single-use plastic bags to customers at the point of sale or service. The ban doesn't apply to bags that package bulk items (produce, grains, small hardware, etc.), bakery goods, fish, meat, flowers, and dry cleaning. No charges apply to paper bags for prescription medicine and take-out food by restaurants or prepared food provided at a drive-through. Click here for a complete list of exemptions.
Baltimore County
On November 1, the distribution of single-use plastic checkout bags at the point of sale was prohibited in Baltimore County in order to reduce the significant negative impact of plastic bag litter in our communities, waterways and at the County's recycling processing plant. Retail establishments now charge a minimum of $0.05 for each paper or reusable bag distributed, to encourage shoppers to bring their own bag and reduce single-use waste.
Read the full story.
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