Bag Bans Continuing to expand Across Maryland

Bag bans may hurt the environment and consumers, but elected officials don't seem to care.

In April, I wrote about the misguided notion of Bag Bans. As I wrote then,

By banning “single-use” plastic bags, Anne Arundel County (and other jurisdictions) have increased, not decreased, the amount of plastic being consumed by their residents. All while forcing the residents to pay a regressive tax on paper bags and forcing them to buy additional products to meet their family’s needs.

Since that time Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, and Prince George’s County all have passed bag ban legislation.

Such legislation mandates the use of “stitched handle reusable bags” and paper bags by stores and other retail venues for a fee of at least 10 cents. The promotion of the stitched is also counterintuitive to reducing plastic consumption, as they are non-woven polypropylene (Plastic) with heat-fused stitching and imported from Southeast Asia. The production and shipment of these bags pollute more than the typical film plastic grocery bags which are produced in Maryland.

According to the United States International Trade Commission, imports of the plastic, stitched-handle reusable bags the local ordinances prioritize, are skyrocketing. In 2022, U.S. imports of these products were up significantly, putting the U.S. on track to import more than 1 billion stitched-handle reusable bags, an increase of more than 300 million over the 2017-2021 average. All of these products are made from plastic and none of them can be recycled— unlike the traditional film plastic grocery bags, which can be recycled through store take-back programs.

This ban hurts small businesses, forcing compliance and procurement of alternative bags at a higher cost. Buying alternative bags is often difficult due to prices and supply chain issues and puts them at a disadvantage to national companies.

For many struggling consumers, a ban would create significant new costs at checkout when they forget their bags, which may be more likely for those who rely on public transit, work multiple jobs, or otherwise face challenges when it comes to shopping for necessities. Whether it’s a $10 cotton or canvas bag or a $1- 2 stitched handles plastic bag, like the kind commonly available at the checkout counter, these costs can add up quickly in the absence of affordable options for businesses and consumers.

Former Delegate Sid Saab had this to say to the Anne Arundel County Council on the matter when they were considering the bag ban

I write today to underscore concern and opposition to the Council's proposal to establish a new tax on grocery bags in Anne Arundel County. While I share concerns about the environment and sustainability, families throughout the county are struggling in the face of ever-rising prices driven by economic mismanagement in Annapolis and Washington, DC triggering decades-high inflation.

Nothing in current law at either the state or local level precludes retailers concerned about the costs of paper bags from charging for them to offset operating costs. Nothing in current law prevents retailers concerned about the environment from switching to alternative products. Most importantly, nothing about the carryout bag ordinance aligns with conservative principles or Republican views.

Instead of exercising their freedom of commerce to structure business operations as they wish, either in response to economic or consumer demands, retailers are hiding behind the Sierra Club to greenwash this proposal which is nothing more than a cash grab. Furthermore, their consistent effort across the state to eliminate exemptions for families on SNAP and WIC is yet more evidence of their greed.

Worst of all, this proposal directly jeopardizes manufacturing operations in our state in favor of imported products that are still made from plastic. Litter surveys and beach clean up data show that plastic bags are not among the most littered items and are not the problem activists are searching for excuses to further expand the nanny state claim.

This proposal will directly raise the costs of groceries for families across the county and do absolutely nothing to address litter, waste, or sustainability. Regulating plastic bags and establishing a retailer-retained tax on paper bags is not the appropriate use of government and support for this ordinance represents a dramatic departure from conservative values.

Anne Arundel County need not be complicit in a scheme to undermine state manufacturing, force statewide action to ban Maryland-made products, and transfer dollars from voters into grocers' pockets.

I urge you to loudly and publicly oppose this measure to tax shopping trips, particularly during a time when many families in our community are already being forced to make sacrifices.

Saab is correct. Bag bans are little more than a regressive tax on working families. Let us hope that other local governments were realize the real harm they’re inflicting on their residents.