Plastic bag ban takes effect in Montgomery County

It’s out with the plastic and in with the paper this year in Montgomery County, Maryland.

A new plastic bag ban took effect New Year’s Day with mixed reaction from shoppers.

“I mean, as I was packing this, I was thinking so what if I have heavy items? It’s going to bust through. This is so ridiculous,” one woman told News4 Thursday.

“Actually, the bag fee it’s annoying, but it helps. It really helps and it helps with the littering problem. It helps with people being too fast and loose with the plastic bags,” another woman said.

The self-checkout register at a Giant store in Rockville was up-to-speed. The automated voice asked customers, “How many paper bags did you use?”

But some shoppers were caught off-guard by the change.

County officials want you to BYOB – bring your own bag – to reduce waste and help the environment.

Those who don’t bring their own reusable bags can buy paper bags for 10 cents. That price is double the previous 5-cent fee.

Half of that money goes to the retailer for costs, with the other half going to a fund used for Montgomery County anti-litter programs and watershed restoration initiatives.

Retailers who continue to use plastic bags face a first-time fine of $500 for not following the law.

Customers can still get plastic bags for items such as meat, seafood and fresh produce.

Some municipalities are not participating in the bag ban. For full info, check the county website.

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