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.

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’s 2026 General Assembly Session ended on April 13th. Here is how our litter priorities and other relevant waste and recycling bills ended up.

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.

Maryland’s first packaging producer responsibility regulations are open for public comment now! Trash Free Maryland is working with our coalition of environmental organizations to ensure that Maryland’s new extended producer responsibility for packaging program regulations and guidance support the legislature’s intent that the program minimize environmental and human health harms from packaging and reduce packaging - especially plastic packaging - at the source.

Executive Director, Kelly Doordan, stands in front of Maryland State House holding up Trash Free Maryland’s bottle bill support testimony with logos of dozens of supporting environmental organizations that signed on.

Trash Free Maryland and Baltimore Community ToolBank are partnering to co-host a Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corps Member from August 2026 to August 2027! Applications due March 6th! Read more…