Anne Arundel County Considering Ending Fee on Carryout Bags

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. Anne Arundel County implemented its current ordinance – the Bring Your Own Bag Plastic Reduction Act – on January 1, 2024, to ban plastic carryout bags and require a 10 cent minimum fee on paper or reusable bags at the checkout stand. 

Proposed Bill 74-26 would not remove the plastic bag ban, but it would make the 10 cent fee optional so that stores could choose whether to absorb the cost or charge customers for carryout paper bags provided to customers at checkout.

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. Although paper bags are not as problematic as plastic as a source of litter, single-use paper bags still have an impact on the environment. The 10 cent fee is a powerful behavior change incentive for customers to avoid the fee and help the environment by choosing a readily available option – bring your own reusable shopping bag.

You can find more information about the bill and October 19th hearing, including how to provide testimony, here.