Paper, plastic — or reusable? 'Bring Your Own Bag Act' to take effect in Baltimore County - Baltimore Sun

Paper, plastic - or reusable? ‘Bring Your Own Bag Act’ to take effect in Baltimore County

For the 35 years he’s owned Monaghan’s Pub in Woodlawn, Jack Milani has always offered free paper bags to his customers after a sale.

But starting Wednesday, when Baltimore County’s Bring Your Own Bag Act goes into effect, he will have to charge them for something to carry their purchase in. The law, which the County Council passed earlier this year, bars retailers from offering single-use bags of thin plastic film and requires them to charge at least 5 cents for each paper or reusable bag they provide.

“Now I have to charge my customers a nickel for a paper bag they’ve been getting for free for years,” Milani said.

The Bring Your Own Bag Act will permit paper and reusable carryout bags.

The latter include those that are made of cloth or other washable fabric. Bags made from other durable materials, as well as plastic bags that are at least 2.6 millimeters thick, will be OK, too. These types of bags must have stitched handles.

The law applies to liquor stores; department stores; grocery stores and supermarkets; hardware stores; jewelry stores; flower shops; pharmacies; restaurants, and other temporary stores or vendors, like those at street fairs and festivals. It also applies to gas station convenience stores.

Customers who bring reusable bags will not be charged the 5-cent fee.

Milani said customers often come into his combination bar/package store/restaurant on a whim, and don’t think ahead of time about bringing bags.

“When you go to grocery store, it’s planned,” Milani said. “A lot of our customers’ purchases are single-purchase — they’re stopping on the way home to grab something. It’s a whole different animal.”

One of the sponsors of the act, Democratic Councilman Mike Ertel of Towson, said it’s a way to cut down on single-use trash littering the county’s streets and waterways and to incentivize residents to bring their bags when they shop.

Justin Knodell, a former county resident who recently moved to Baltimore City, said as he walked Friday morning into Button’s Liquor Store in Timonium that he supports the new law.

“I’m for it,” he said. “They say plastic bags are the natural flower of Australia. Here, they’re the equivalent of tumbleweeds. The way we [get rid of] plastic in this country is messed up.”

Knodell said he normally brings reusable bags with him when he shops, but forgot them this time.

Button’s owner Dave Chatha said he did not anticipate operating much differently to comply with the new law.

“Not much will change, other than we’ll have to buy thicker plastic bags,” he said.

Earlier this month, the County Council passed three bills that attempted to alter the bag act before it took effect. One would have exempted liquor stores like Button’s. Council Chair Julian Jones, a Woodstock Democrat, sponsored that bill, which County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. vetoed last week.

Chatha said he would likely buy bags from the company that his friends who own liquor stores in Baltimore City buy from. The city banned single-use plastic bags two years ago.

In addition to the liquor store provision, Olszewski, a Democrat, vetoed a bill that would have reduced the minimum plastic bag thickness from 2.6 to 2.25 millimeters.

“This bill would undo the progress we’ve made and result in even more plastic in our landfill and in our communities,” Olszewski wrote in a letter to the council.

Baltimore County’s garbage depot — the Eastern Sanitary Landfill in White Marsh — is expected to reach capacity in 2027.

[ Baltimore County’s sole landfill is expected to reach capacity in 2027. Officials must decide what comes next.]

Plastic bags of any type will be allowed for dry-cleaned clothes; frozen meats, fish and produce; plants and flowers; insects; live fish and other seafood; unwrapped prepared foods and baked goods, as will those used to comply with food safety and contamination standards.

The Morning Sun

Along with Baltimore City, Howard and Montgomery counties have plastic bag bans. Similar laws take effect in January in Anne Arundel and Prince George’s counties.

Reusable bags can be purchased in many stores, and Baltimore County is giving away reusable bags at public libraries, senior centers, and community events while supplies last, according to spokesperson Sean Naron.

Retailers who do not comply will be fined up to $500 per civil violation by the county Department of Permits, Approvals and Inspections.

There will be a 90-grace period, during which the county will issue nonmonetary “corrections” to retailers who violate the law. The permitting department said the idea is to give stores time to get in compliance with the new rule and educate customers.

Milani, who is also the legislative chair for the Baltimore County Licensed Beverage Association, said his group plans to lobby further for liquor stores to be exempted from the bag ban. While it exempts small, independent shops, it specifically includes liquor stores.

Milani noted that under Maryland law, store owners can only own one liquor store.

“If there is such a thing as a small business exemption, we should certainly be part of it,” he said.