Politics & Government

County Council Passes 5-Cent Bag Tax

New law will take effect on Jan 1.

The choice of paper or plastic will soon carry a price for local shoppers. The Montgomery County Council passed a 5-cent tax on bags at all retail establishments on Tuesday.

The bill, which will go into effect on Jan. 1, is similar to a tax enacted in D.C. a year ago. The County Council passed the bill by an 8-1 vote. Councilwoman Nancy M. Floreen (D-At large) of Garrett Park cast the single opposing vote.

County Executive Isiah  to reduce litter and to encourage residents to use reusable bags.

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The county "will work to educate residents to help them be prepared for the transition to having re-useable bags become part of their shopping routine," Leggett (D) said in a news release on Tuesday.

"This is good for the environment," Leggett said. "And, I expect many people who are not already doing this to adjust. We do not see this as a source of revenue. The more people who use reusable bags, the less revenue to the county and that is just fine."

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Critics called the tax "regressive" and said it puts an added cost on consumers during difficult economic times.

“It’s unfortunate that the County Council would take this approach," Shari Jackson, director of the Progressive Bag Affiliates of The American Chemistry Council, a lobbying group for the chemical industry—including plastic bag makers, said in a statement on Tuesday. "Plastic bags are fully recyclable and instead of entertaining recycling partnerships and programs, the County Council chose a policy that punishes families by raising grocery costs unnecessarily."

Jackson said that because the county does not collect bags and wraps curbside with other household recyclables, "the bag tax could also have the unintended effect of dismantling this necessary at-store recycling infrastructure" provided through bins at grocery stores and by retailers such as Target, Wal-Mart and Lowe's.

The tax will not apply to bags at pharmacies containing perscription drugs, bags used for newspapers, bags used to carry garbage or pet or yard waste, bags used to take away leftovers from a restaurant or bags at farmers markets. Retail establishments will keep 1 cent for each bag used in order to cover the administration costs.

The tax is expected to generate $1.5 million in revenue for the county in the first year. The revenue will go to the Water Quality Protection Fund, which pays for stormwater management, watershed restoration and litter clean-up.


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