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Terms Used In Maryland Code, LOCAL GOVERNMENT 13-1001

  • County: means a county of the State or Baltimore City. See
  • including: means includes or including by way of illustration and not by way of limitation. See
(a) This section applies only in Howard County.

(b) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

(2) (i) “Disposable bag” means a plastic bag provided by a store to a customer at the point of sale.

(ii) “Disposable bag” does not include:

1. a durable plastic bag with handles that is at least 2.25 mils thick and is designed and manufactured for multiple reuse;

2. a bag used to:

A. package bulk items, including fruit, vegetables, nuts, grains, candy, or small hardware items;

B. contain or wrap frozen foods, meat, or fish, whether prepackaged or not;

C. contain or wrap flowers, potted plants, or other damp items;

D. contain unwrapped prepared foods or bakery goods; or

E. contain a newspaper or dry cleaning;

3. a bag provided by a pharmacist to contain prescription drugs; or

4. plastic bags sold in packages containing multiple plastic bags intended for use as garbage, pet waste, or yard waste bags.

(3) “Store” means a retail establishment that provides disposable bags to customers as a result of the sale of a product.

(c) (1) The county may impose, by law, a fee on a store for the use of disposable bags as a part of a retail sale of products.

(2) The fee imposed under paragraph (1) of this subsection may not exceed 5 cents for each disposable bag used.

(d) The county may only use the revenue from a fee imposed under subsection (c) of this section for:

(1) an environmental purpose, including the establishment of a program to provide reusable bags to individuals in the county; or

(2) the implementation, administration, and enforcement of the fee.