Montgomery County’s 'bring‑your‑own‑bag' law in effect Jan. 1; paper bags cost 10¢, SNAP purchases exempt
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Summary
Ana Arriaza of the county Department of Environmental Protection told En Sintonía that Montgomery County’s 'Trae tu propia bolsa' law took effect Jan. 1, 2026; stores should encourage reusable bags, offer paper bags at 10¢, and exempt SNAP purchases; some municipal exceptions (medicines, farmers markets) apply.
Ana Arriaza, community outreach specialist at the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection, explained the county’s new 'Trae tu propia bolsa' ordinance during the Jan. 2026 episode of En Sintonía and outlined how it will work for shoppers.
Arriaza said the ordinance is intended to reduce single‑use plastic. "Esta legislación... es educar a la comunidad acerca de reutilizar cosas," she said, noting that lightweight plastics frequently end up in waterways and, through the food chain, generate microplastics that can affect human health.
According to the broadcast, the law took effect Jan. 1, 2026. Arriaza said most stores should encourage customers to bring reusable bags and, if customers need a bag, retailers will offer paper bags for a 10‑cent charge. She added that households using SNAP (food‑assistance) benefits will not be charged the 10‑cent paper‑bag fee for eligible purchases.
Arriaza described a set of exceptions and municipal variations: some municipalities and specific transactions (for example, purchases of medicines or sales at farmers markets) may still provide plastic bags under the law’s exemptions. She advised listeners to consult the county’s web page for municipality-specific details and to call 311 with questions.
On implementation and outreach, Arriaza said the department has distributed about 25,000 reusable bags in recent months and plans broader distribution—via libraries, public events and the department office in Wheaton—to improve access. She asked residents to check the county website for information on which municipalities have adopted the law and how to report noncompliant stores.
Marcela Rodríguez Villagrán noted that the ordinance was approved by the council on Feb. 11, 2025 and was introduced last year by Councilmember Kate Stewart. The broadcast provided no ordinance number or citation; the department’s web page and 311 were given as the sources for more detailed, municipality‑level rules and enforcement procedures.
