Policy: New Rules of Trash

Support the Maryland and Prince George’s County Bag Bills and Help Reduce Trash at Its Source!

A small fee on single-use bags in stores creates an incentive for consumers to bring their own reusable bags to the store causing a decrease in the use of single use bags in the county where it is in place. These bags make up a large percentage of the trash that pollutes our watershed and by reducing them at their source, we are reducing the abundance found in our watershed.

Proof of Success
Since enacting the bill, DC has seen an estimated 50% reduction in the use of disposable carry out bags.

In a poll we conducted in 2010, 78% of businesses reported either positive or no impact to their business and 75% of DC residents reported using fewer single-use plastic bags.

Ways to Get Involved
Make a video! Since we cannot get all of the supporters to testify at the hearings, we are currently compiling videos of testimonies of citizens, small business owners, children etc., about why they would like to see fewer plastic bags blowing in their neighborhoods and clogging their local streams.

Please take a few minutes and make a 30 second video of yourself, neighbor, or friend talking about why they support the bag bill and how they would like to see a reduction of plastic bag litter in their community. Upload this video to Youtube and send the link to

Your personal phone call is very valuable, but you can also reach all the delegates by signing this petition for Prince George's County. You can also sign the Maryland Petition. Please circulate these link to your lists and social media!

Policy Committee Focus:

1. What areas need collaboration and among whom?
2. Are there case studies or models of multi-jurisdictional collaboration to examine?
3. What are existing successful legislative/management practices in the region that can be shared with others?
4. What ‘new rules’ can be established to improve the trash issue?

• Julie Lawson - View Presentation
• Susan Collins, Container Recycling Institute - Beverage Container Recycling
• Roundtable Notes

• Mayor Jim Newberry, Lexington, Kentucky – View Presentation
• Brenda Platt, Waste to Wealth and Sustainable Plastics Program Director, Institute for Local Self-Reliance
• Roundtable Minutes

• Roundtable Minutes

• July 23, 2007: Agenda