Baltimore County plastic bag ban takes effect

BALTIMORE -- If you live or do your grocery shopping in Baltimore County, make sure to grab a reusable bag.

The plastic bag ban is now in effect for Baltimore County.

If you are not willing to bring some reusable bags or forget them, then you will need to keep a few nickels in your pocket, because most stores will now require you to pay 5 cents per reusable or paper bag at check out.

The county's law prohibits most businesses from offering free plastic bags to any customer.

The intent is to protect the environment by keeping plastic out of landfills. However, plastic bags are still allowed to be used for meat, seafood, produce, dry cleaning, bakery items, plants and flowers.

"Work with us to make sure folks are doing the right things and keeping their communities clean but also improving public health by reducing the amount of plastic in our waterways and in our bodies," Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski said.   

Farmers' Markets along with mom-and-pop businesses that have fewer than four stores are exempt from the law change.

General manager Rick Morris, of family-owned Geresbeck's Food Market in Middle River, said his store is already abiding by the plastic bag ban.

"We've had signs hanging at the doors," Morris said. "We've had signs at every register just alerting customers that it's going to take effect November 1." 

But for customers, it's a shock to the system and the changes may take a little while to get adjusted to.

"Things is expensive, and buy bag is ridiculous," shopper Zuleika Bolden said.

"It's going to be difficult today because it's the first time and I think a lot of people forgot about this," shopper Diane Legge said.

Baltimore County now joins Baltimore City and Howard County, which both have similar laws. Anne Arundel will be the next county to switch to this policy starting in the new year.

There will be a grace period of 90 days for businesses to adjust to the new law

"The plastic bags were you know, kind of they were taken away last night," Morris said. "We just put them to cheapest reusable bags out and, you know, we offer paper bags as well."

Some have already made the switch to reusable bags even before the change in law while others are playing catch-up. 

"Eventually people get used to bringing their own bags, but for now, it's really going to be a hard transition to do that but eventually everybody will be on the same page," Legge said.