We are seeking new members to join our Board of Directors! Read more…

On October 19, 2026, the Anne Arundel County Council will consider Bill 74-26, which would repeal the paper bag fee portion of the county’s existing carryout bag ordinance. Trash Free Maryland supports carryout bag policies that include both a ban on plastic bags and a fee on paper alternatives. Hybrid policies with a ban and fee are a best practice for both reducing litter and incentivizing shoppers to bring their own reusable bag. Read more…

Confused about recycling arrows and what they mean? Do you sometimes wonder if product packaging is recyclable in your curbside recycling program or at all? We’re sifting through a handful of federal bills introduced to tackle this confusion.

Thanks to 150+ people who volunteered their time on a beautiful Saturday morning to remove dozens of bags of litter from Baltimore’s streets as part of our 9th Annual Cheers to Clean Water event! You removed dozens of bags of trash, including more than 2,400 bottles and cans and over 380 plastic carryout bags, preventing them from washing downstream to pollute the Chesapeake Bay.

Montgomery County’s “Bring Your Own Bag” Bill prohibits retailers from providing a plastic carryout bag to a customer at the point of sale, with few exceptions.

Trash Free Maryland is working with our coalition to advance state and local skip the stuff policies that reduce plastic trash and litter, save businesses money, and improve customer convenience. Win-win-win!

We recently had an opportunity to meet the founder of Plastic Free July, Rebecca Prince-Ruiz. She inspired us by sharing her journey in creating Plastic Free July to demonstrate the massive collective impact of millions of small actions taking place around the globe.

We recently hosted a learning session featuring Kristen Brown of Waste Zero sharing how communities in Maryland can use “Save As You Throw” unit-based pricing for trash to reduce waste, introduce a more fair way to pay for trash, and save money on disposal. We also learned about early results from a pilot program underway in Greenbelt, MD.

A recent article in Science finds plastic bag bans and fees work to reduce plastic bag litter along shorelines with a growing positive environmental impact with time.

Maryland Paint Stewardship Program launches April 1, 2026! Legislation to create this product stewardship program passed in 2024, making it easier for all Marylanders to manage and recycle leftover paint! Visit paintcare.org/md to find a participating drop off site near you and recycle your used paint!

Maryland Crossover Day is March 23rd this year. Legislation that passes one chamber by this date has the best chance of making it through the session successfully.