Plastic Bag Ban Passed By City Of Annapolis: Report

ANNAPOLIS, MD — The Annapolis City Council recently passed a plastic bag ban, the city clerk's office told Patch on Monday.

The clerk's office noted that Mayor Gavin Buckley (D) plans to sign the legislation, which they said passed with only one "no" vote.

The plastic bag ban would then take effect on Jan. 22, 2025, the clerk's office said.

Paper bags would then be available for 10 cents, The Capital reported, adding that the City would spend $5,000 to give free reusable bags to residents with low incomes.

The Capital reported that Alderman DaJuan Gay (D-Ward 6) cast the lone vote against the bill, which passed on July 22. Gay proposed an amendment to exempt residents on public assistance from the paper bag fee, but that amendment was defeated 5-3 because it would be too difficult to enforce. The Capital said Gay still supports a plastic bag ban but wants a more equitable rollout.

The Annapolis bag ban is similar to the one that took effect this January in the rest of Anne Arundel County. That county legislation did not affect the City of Annapolis, which creates its own laws.

The Capital said these items are exempt from the Annapolis bag ban: "fresh flowers, dry cleaning, newspapers, ice, baked goods, prescription drugs from a pharmacy and bulk items such as vegetables, nuts and seafood."

To learn more about the bag ban, read The Capital's full story.