Residents of Maryland’s Montgomery County are starting the New Year off more sustainably, even if it’s by force.
A law signed in May went into effect on Sunday and places a 5-cent per bag fee on plastic bags in order to decrease pollution and fund water protection projects. The fee covers nearly all retail businesses except for bags used with prescription drugs, residential waste, restaurant leftovers, newspapers and items purchased at farmer’s markets.
The fee is expected to decrease the use of single-use bags and encourage more responsible consumer habits. Plastic bags are one of the top four items found in Montgomery County’s waterways.
