Maryland Plastic Bag Reduction Act Statewide Rules

Maryland's Plastic Bag Reduction Act, codified in the Environment Article, bans retail establishments from distributing single-use plastic carryout bags at checkout. Reusable bags meeting durability and thickness standards remain allowed, and paper bags may be offered, often with a per-bag charge enacted by local jurisdictions. Restaurants, grocers, and convenience stores are covered, while exemptions exist for produce, meat, bulk goods, prescription, and dry-cleaning bags. Local jurisdictions like Baltimore City and Montgomery County had earlier bag bans that remain in effect alongside the state law.

Civil penalties for retailers distributing prohibited bags can reach $500 per day and are enforced by local jurisdictions and the Maryland Department of the Environment.