Some wins so far:

Expanded Polystyrene Foam

• 2014: DC passes foam ban legislation (went into effect Jan. 1, 2016)

• 2015: Montgomery County Council passes EPS foam ban for food service

• 2016: Prince George’s County passes EPS foam ban for food service

• 2018: City of Annapolis bans EPS Foam for food service

• 2019: Baltimore City implements EPS foam ban for food service

• 2019: FIRST STATE-WIDE FOAM BAN FOR FOOD SERVICE CONTAINERS IN THE U.S.!

Plastic Bags

• 2009: Washington DC passes a bag bill to charge .05 for any paper/plastic bag

• 2011: Montgomery County Council passes a bag bill to charge .05 for any paper/plastic bag

• 2016: Plastic bags banned in Takoma Park

• 2019: Plastic bags banned in Westminster

• 2020: Plastic bags banned in Baltimore City

• 2026: Plastic bags banned in Montgomery County

Microbeads

• 2015: Microbeads in personal care products banned in Maryland

More

• 2014: New requirement for public events of 200+ to provide recycling next to trash in Maryland

• 2014: New requirement to impose driver’s license points to be imposed on persons convicted of illegal dumping in Maryland enacted.

• 2020: Montgomery County banned balloon releases. Queen Anne’s County and Ocean City have also banned these releases.

• 2021: Howard County passed the Plastic Reduction Law limiting use of plastic straws, stirrers, condiment packages and food wares

• 2023: Passed SB222 to establish an Advisory Council on Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging and to conduct a statewide recycling needs assessment

• 2024: Paint stewardship bill passed to require a paint stewardship program

• 2025: Passed Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging and Paper Products (SB901)

• 2025: Passed HB277/SB96 to require a water bottle filling station or combined filling station and drinking fountain anywhere that new construction or renovation would have required a drinking fountain.