City flubs plastic bag "ban" kickoff
It's been illegal since the beginning of this month for Baltimore supermarkets, corner grocers and convenience stores to simply give out disposable plastic bags for carrying away merchandise. But don't bother calling 911 on any violators you see out there.
The ordinance, which took effect Sept. 1, isn't being enforced because City Hall botched the startup. City officials were supposed to create a bag "reduction" program that would've allowed merchants to keep handing out the flimsy sacks, as long as customers asked for them. Stores also had to offer to recycle plastic bags and encourage customers to buy or bring in their own reusable sacks.
Councilman Jim Kraft, who'd long sought a bag ban as a way to fight the litter in Baltimore's streets, streams and harbor, said city officials were late setting up the bag reduction program, so there was no way for businesses to register to avoid the ban. An online link for businesses to register was posted on the website of the city's Office of Sustainability on Aug. 27, just four days before the ban was to take effect.
"It was really a sort of snafu, where there were some misunderstandings," Kraft said, and city officials "didn't understand what they had to do....I was getting calls from these guys (retailers) saying I want to register and I can't."
As a result, he noted, "Technically, everyone is in violation. As of Sept. 1, if they're not in the program, they can't use (plastic) bags."
Merchants are still allowed to sign up for the bag reduction program and keep using plastic bags, but under the ordinance they have to pay a $500 fee now to do so. Up until Sept. 1, it was free to register, an arrangement Kraft and others had hope would provide businesses an incentive to get on board quickly.
Now, to give food dealers more time to register without paying the fee, Kraft is rushing a "corrective bill" through City Council that delays the effective date of the program to Dec. 1 and extends the free signup to Nov. 30. Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has agreed to sign the fixup legislation, Kraft said.
"I think it's going to be fine," he concluded.
(Tip of the proverbial hat to Investigative Voice for first reporting this!)
(Washington Giant supermarket before nickel fee imposed there on nonrecyclable bags. 2009 AP Photo)
Comments
Stores are always going to find away around this because it's significantly less expensive for them to give you plastic. I worked at a large chain grocer in PA as a teen (~8 years ago) and we were instructed to always use plastic unless paper was specifically requested.
I usually bring my own reusable bags or ask for paper, but I do accept a few plastic bags each month so I can use them to dispose of used cat litter.
Posted by: Steve | October 4, 2010 11:17 AM
I went into a Safeway today, saw a sign at the cash register saying plasic bags would only be given out on request. The cashiers were ignoring the sign and giving bags to all. When I complained to my cashier, she told me she wasn't about to change her behavior.
Posted by: Nick | October 7, 2010 4:59 PM