Olszewski Vetoes Efforts to Weaken Baltimore County’s BYOBag Law

TOWSON, MD – Exactly one week until Baltimore County’s Bring Your Own Bag law is set to take effect, and in accordance with Article IV, § 402 of the Charter of Baltimore County, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski announced today he has vetoed the following pieces of legislation:

• Baltimore County Council Bill 71-23 – Reusable Carryout Bag Definition
• Baltimore County Council Bill 73-23 – Bring Your Own Bag Act – Liquor Store Exemption.

These are the second set of vetoes issued by Olszewski since taking office in 2018.

Olszewski issued the following statement:

“In February, the Baltimore County Council took a bipartisan vote to pass a thoughtful bill to reduce plastic bag waste in our County. Since then, County Government and the business community have prepared for the law’s implementation. Now is not the time to undo that progress.

These two bills will unnecessarily allow more plastic bags to end up in our landfill and in our environment – counter to the goal we set together when we passed the bipartisan Bring Your Own Bag Act.

Bill 71-23 in particular represents the biggest step backwards in our sustainability efforts. By amending the definition of a reusable bag to include thinner plastic film bags, and removing the stitched handle requirement, this bill opens the door for all retailers – not just already exempted small retailers – to distribute thicker plastic bags that aren’t truly reusable.”

In response to Olszewski’s announcement, environmental and civic organizations from across the region issued the following statements:

“The National Aquarium supports enacting strong plastic bag laws, which are an effective solution to improve human and environmental health by reducing plastic pollution,” said Jennifer Driban, Chief Mission Officer of the National Aquarium. “We applaud County Executive Olszewski for opposing efforts to weaken the legislation set to take effect in Baltimore County on November 1. Plastic bags pollute our communities, clog our storm drains and streams, and harm plants and animals. Last year alone, the National Aquarium and volunteers removed 72,103 pieces of debris from Maryland’s waterways and wetlands; 90% of which was plastic.”

“Nine other Maryland cities or counties have passed bills in the last year that banned all film plastic carryout bags,” said Rob Frier, Zero Waste Lead for the Greater Baltimore Sierra Club. “As amended by CB-71-23, Baltimore County will have the weakest law of all of these jurisdictions and produce even more plastic litter. We are grateful to County Executive Olszewski for his steadfast advocacy for the environment in vetoing these harmful amendments”

"There is no question that these amendments drastically weaken the Bring Your Own Bag Act, which hasn't even seen the light of day yet," said Alice Volpitta, Baltimore Harbor Waterkeeper with Blue Water Baltimore. "Allowing for the use of thicker plastic bags and exempting liquor stores from the ban only serves to harm our environment and its residents by sending more trash into our landfills, incinerators, and ultimately our rivers and Bay. These bags act as high-water marks along our streams, they get wrapped up in our boat propellers, and they are a nuisance to everyone both upstream and downstream. Baltimore County deserves better."

In February, a bipartisan coalition of Baltimore County Councilmembers introduced and passed the Bring Your Own Bag Act, making Baltimore County the latest jurisdiction in the state to take action to reduce plastic pollution and joining Baltimore City, Howard County, Montgomery County, and the cities of Easton, Salisbury, and Westminster.

Since the law was passed more than seven months ago, the Baltimore County Department of Permits, Approvals, and Inspections (PAI) conducted outreach to educate business owners about the bill’s requirements and has been working to develop regulations necessary for effective implementation of the law.

With just weeks until this the Bring Your Own Bag Act was set to take effect, the Baltimore County Council introduced three bills proposing changes to the law.

In accordance with the Charter of Baltimore County, County Council Bill 72-23 – Bring Your Own Bag Act – Paper Carryout Bag Definition, will be enacted without the County Executive’s signature.