Starting Nov. 1, you’ll need to bring your own reusable shopping bag in Baltimore County or you’ll be charged five cents. The Baltimore County Council just passed a plastic bag ban. The bill passed 5 to 2. The bill was introduced by council member Izzy Patoka and two other councilmen. “Plastic bags have been a menace on our environment for many, many years and now we’re going to address that issue,” Patoka said.
There were two council members who did not agree with the bill. One of them, Council Chair Julian Jones, the other, District Seven Councilmember Todd Crandell. “I’ve reached the conclusion that this bill is a complete government overreach into the relationship consumers have with the establishments that they patronize.”
Councilmembers spent a lot of time talking about a number of amendments to the bill. The original bill would have required stores to charge 10 cents per plastic bag, but that was changed to five. The bill was also amended to give a 90-day enforcement grace period to businesses. Councilmembers voted make farmers markets exempt from charging for plastic bags.