By Sanchali Singh
(BALTIMORE) Baltimore’s plastic bag ban, which had already been delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, has yet again been pushed back, Mayor Brandon Scott announced on Friday.
In January 2020, the city passed the Comprehensive Bag Reduction Act, establishing that the ban would go into effect July 9, which was already a delayed date as it was originally meant to go into effect Jan. 13. FOX 45 News reported that the ban, which would stop plastic bags from being used in Baltimore City, now won’t start until Oct. 1.
According to a city press release, Baltimore is still struggling “to navigate the health and economic impacts of the pandemic." In preparation for the ban, the city’s Office of Sustainability is expected to spend June through October educating residents and retailers about changes going forward.
Once the ban goes into effect, the city will charge at least $0.05 for each alternative bag, like paper bags, distributed at check out, of which $0.01 will be sent to the city.
The city also plans to distribute thousands of reusable bags to residents "through a lens of equity, while also supporting retailers in the months leading up to the ban," FOX 45 News reported.
"I’m excited to support the Office of Sustainability’s public education campaign on the plastic bag ban as we move out of the state of emergency," City Comptroller Bill Henry said in a statement. "Collaboration is the only way to accomplish the ban’s goal — reducing plastic waste in our waterways and lessening our reliance on fossil fuels."