Trash Free MarylandCategory: dc
Looking back on 2015
We had a very big year, with foam packaging bans, a landmark ban on microbeads, and the largest study of microplastic pollution in our region to date.
Read MoreWe passed the foam trifecta!
Today the Prince George’s County Council voted unanimously to ban polystyrene foam food containers and packing material for distribution or sale at restaurants and retailers. The ban takes effect in July 2016. This means that next year your takeout dinner,…
Read MoreMontgomery County Banned the Foam
I’m delighted to report that this morning the Montgomery County Council voted 8-0 to ban polystyrene foam food packaging! Rock Creek in Montgomery County, Fall 2014 The law in many ways mirrors the law passed in DC last summer: –…
Read MoreBag fees: Where does the money go?
I’ve been terrible at updating this summer. Plus I get asked this question a lot, so it seems like I should document it for posterity. So you are shopping in DC or Montgomery County, and you forgot your reusable bag…
Read MoreWe love this video
An excellent video parodying the DC bag fee has been making the rounds. Enjoy!
Read MoreThe DC bag fee is cleaning up the Anacostia River
Nash Run is one of the dirtiest streams in the Anacostia River watershed. However, thanks to D.C’s 5-cent disposable bag fee, one major source of pollution is finally on the decline. “Astronomical levels of trash” and “dirtiest of all streams”…
Read MoreLogic as flimsy as a cheap plastic bag
Right-wing think tank Beacon Hill Institute is out with an update to their 2011 report on the DC bag fee. Last year I opted not to respond to their “study” because it seemed so flawed that surely no one would…
Read MoreEarly numbers are in from Montgomery County
Montgomery County’s bag fee earned $154,000 for the county’s Water Quality Improvement Fund in January. This figure is based on tax receipts from many county retailers, and is the remainder after the retailers kept their portion (one cent from every…
Read MoreIntroducing the Community Cleanup and Greening Act of 2012
Last Thursday Delegate Mary Washington (D-District 43, Baltimore City) introduced the Community Cleanup and Greening Act in the House of Delegates of the Maryland General Assembly. Senator Brian Frosh (D-District 16, Montgomery County) introduced the same bill in the Senate…
Read More