Paper Bag Fee: Should Customers Have To Pay 10 Cents? County Council Will Decide

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD — Should Anne Arundel County shoppers have to pay for paper bags now that free plastic bags are mostly banned? The County Council will hear public testimony on the matter Monday evening amid a proposal to revoke the required 10-cent fee for paper bags.

County Council Republicans Shannon Leadbetter (District 7), Nathan Volke (District 3) and Amanda Fiedler (District 5) sponsored the legislation, dubbed Bill 92-24. None immediately responded to Patch's request for comment. We will update this story if they reply.

The proposal would continue the ban on most uses of plastic bags. The exceptions for the current plastic-bag-reliant businesses would carry over.

The Anne Arundel County Council passed its plastic bag ban by a 6-1 vote in June 2023, and it took effect in January 2024.

Customers currently bring their own reusable bags or purchase a paper bag.

The City of Annapolis, which sets its own laws, is preparing to institute its own bag bill.

The Annapolis City Council passed its own plastic bag ban this July. The law is set to take effect on Jan. 22, 2025. In Annapolis, paper bags will also be available for a minimum fee of 10 cents.

The bill to revoke the paper bag fee in Anne Arundel County was introduced on Nov. 4.

The public hearing is the last item on the agenda for Monday's County Council meeting. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at the Arundel Center, located in Annapolis at 44 Calvert St. Residents can attend in person or watch the meeting live on Arundel TV, which is streamed online and aired via these cable providers.