Plastic Bag Ban Bill Signed By Baltimore Mayor

BALTIMORE, MD — Baltimore Mayor Bernard C. "Jack" Young signed a bill that will ban many retailers from giving away plastic bags at checkout counters in the city next year. The bill signing took place Monday morning at the National Aquarium.

Called the Comprehensive Bag Reduction Act, the measure prohibits retailers from providing customers with plastic bags at the checkout. Supermarkets, convenience stores, restaurants, shops, services stations and other service outlets are subject to the plastic bag ban.

These are the exceptions:

• Fresh fish, meat and poultry products
• Unpackaged fruits, nuts or vegetables
• Unpackaged confectionery, fresh cheese and baked goods
• Ice
• Items obtained at a farmer's market
• Prescription drugs from a pharmacy
• Newspapers
• Dry-cleaned items

The Comprehensive Bag Reduction Act takes effect exactly one year from the day it was signed, so it goes into law Jan. 13, 2021.

Businesses in violation may be guilty of a misdemeanor and could be fined up to $1,000 for each offense, or each time a customer is provided with a plastic bag. A business may also be issued an environmental citation for violating the law.