Could a Bag Tax Go Statewide in Maryland?

Howard County is among the Maryland jurisdictions considering a tax on plastic bags in retail establishments.

Following the momentum created by —the first jurisdiction in the state to implement a , which went into effect Jan. 1—state officials say they expect a movement to make the bag tax mandatory statewide.

“I think there will be a continued strong push for statewide action,” said Del. Alfred Carr, D-Montgomery. “People realize the extent to which these plastic bags are ending up as litter and fouling the waterways.”

It is estimated the five cents people pay to use plastic bags in Montgomery County will generate $1.5 million in revenue for the first year—money officials said would be used for water quality programs.

The Maryland League of Conservation Voters has made a plastic bag tax one of its top priorities for the 2012 legislative session. Its proposal also includes using the revenue for water quality improvement efforts.

In Howard County, County Executive Ken Ulman has asked environmental protection staff members to research the concept of a bag tax and offer him options to consider, according to county spokesman Kevin Enright.

"At this time it’s safe to say we are exploring the idea, but certainly have no definitive answer on whether or not the executive supports a county or statewide tax for plastic bags," said Enright.

The idea of taxes on grocery bags also has its opponents.

The website bagtheban.com, a project of the plastic bag manufacturer Hilex Poly, said these types of taxes are a threat to jobs at bag manufacturing companies.

The site also says that reusable bags could breed bacterial contamination, if not regularly cleaned with soap and water, a claim backed by Charles Gerba, a professor at the University of Arizona.

Gerba’s study, published recently in the International Association for Food Protection's Food Protection Trends magazine,  like E. coli flourish in unwashed reusable bags.

There has also been some consumer backlash.

One Calverton resident : “I don’t feel that we should have to pay for bags for our groceries or anything else,” she said. “That should be something that we all should get free."

Montgomery’s bag tax follows the bag tax enacted in Washington, D.C., which is in effect for businesses that sell food or alcohol, according to The Washington Post.

Prince George’s County officials are actively pursuing the tax. State Sen. Paul Pinskey and Del. Barbara Frush, both Democrats from Prince George’s, have said they plan to seek legislative approval to allow county officials to levy the tax.

Baltimore County is one region that does not appear to be going along. Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamentez has “no interest in pursuing a bag tax,” said county spokeswoman Ellen Kobler.