WJLA: Montgomery County could ban plastic bags, double paper bag fee – Baltimore Sun

Shoppers in Montgomery County may no longer have the option to use plastic bags in the future.

New legislation introduced this past week would ban all plastic bags. Under the “Bring Your Own Bag” bill, each paper bag would cost 10 cents, double the current cost.

Lawmakers say they are working on being more environmentally responsible, encouraging more customers to bring reusable bags.

Even though plastic bags are recyclable, officials say too many of them are still ending up in the waterways, and they could take up to 1,000 years to decompose.

Ultimately, the idea is to keep plastic bags from ending up as litter.

Montgomery County Council Vice President Kate Stewart, one of the sponsors of the bill, says the county has also failed to track and collect the taxes owed by retailers under the current system. Retailers who violate the proposed legislation would first get a warning, then face fines of up to $500 and $750 for a second violation.

The increased charge for plastic bags is intended to provide an incentive to retailers. Five cents would be retained by the retailer, and five cents would be remitted to the county to be deposited in the Water Quality Protection Fund.

But many shoppers we spoke with don’t like the idea.

“I think that’s outrageous. The paper and the plastic bags are both recyclable, so it should not be costing the county anything,” said shopper Angela Mitchell.

Others are in favor of the change.

“I think it’s a great idea. I have bags in my car, so that will force them to use them,” said James Proctor, who shops at the Giant Food in downtown Silver Spring.

“I think we should ban bags. We’ve got microplastics in us; it’s bad for the environment,” added shopper Drew Sullivan.

Currently, four cents of the county’s plastic bag tax goes to the Water Quality Protection Fund, and the other penny goes to stores. The proposal now goes to a committee vote and public hearings that could happen in the next month. 7News certainly got a mixed bag of reactions.

“Oh, that’s a bunch of bunk. Paper bags disintegrate; they are compost,” exclaimed Eugene Keanon.

“I mean, I’m all about the environment, and I do appreciate the incentive. I do think 10 cents is a bit much,” added Toni Smith.

Shopper Deanne Anderson likes the idea behind a ban.

“People just throw them all over the sidewalks and into the rivers. It’s hazardous,” Anderson said.

A recent Montgomery County Inspector General’s report found that the county lost out on a potential $8.2 million in revenue because it failed to enforce the plastic bag tax. The report found that many businesses didn’t collect it properly.

Under the proposed bill, customers with perishables like meats, prescription drugs and dry-cleaning items would still be allowed to choose paper or plastic bags with no fee.

Restaurant customers would be exempt from the 10-cent fee for things like leftovers, food deliveries or orders from fast-food restaurants.

If the bill passes, the effective date written into the bill is July 1, 2025.