A new law in effect Jan. 1 might have more Montgomery County residents carrying around reusable bags.
The Bring Your Own Bag Law bans businesses’ use of plastic carryout bags and includes a 10-cent tax for paper carryout bags. The law is part of a countywide effort to reduce waste, preserve waterways and encourage use of reusable bags, according to the Montgomery County website.
Revenue from the bag tax will go towards the county’s Water Quality Protection Charge fund and will be used to reduce local litter and pollution.
Customers who bring their own plastic bags will not be charged a bag tax.
“This is exactly what the law is designed to encourage,” the website reads. “Be prepared by stashing a few bags in your car, backpack, or by the front door so you’re ready wherever you shop.”
Businesses in some regions of the county are exempt from the prohibition on plastic bags, the website states.
Some types of bags and some customers are exempt from the law. Plastic bags are still allowed for prescription medications from pharmacies, fresh produce, meats, seafood or bulk food items, and dry cleaning and garment bags. The law maintains that plastic bags cannot be provided at checkout counters.
Some areas of Montgomery County allow businesses to provide plastic bags, as long as they charge 10 cents per bag.
The paper bag tax does not apply to customers paying with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; Women, Infants and Children, or other state-approved food assistance benefits at a grocery store. Restaurant takeout and delivery orders also do not apply.
Montgomery County partners with nonprofit organizations, the Housing Opportunities Commission and local service agencies to distribute free reusable bags to low-income households across the county. Residents can also obtain reusable bags at community events and through assistance programs, libraries, SNAP benefit offices and food banks.
I’ve headed into the grocery store a few times empty handed (e.g. without my reusable bag), so this took some getting used to! Happy that this is in place, and hoping for some positive impact around our local MoCo environment!