Solution: Policy Solutions

 

Policy makes a difference.

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Types of legislative and policy solutions:

  • Banning problematic materials

  • Systematic Design or Behavior Change Incentives

  • Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for products

  • Enforcement and Regulation

  • See more policies we support


Some wins so far:

Expanded Polystyrene Foam

  • 2014: DC passes foam ban legislation (went into effect Jan. 1, 2016)

  • 2015: Montgomery County Council passes EPS foam ban for food service

  • 2016: Prince George’s County passes EPS foam ban for food service

  • 2018: City of Annapolis bans EPS Foam for food service

  • 2019: Baltimore City implements EPS foam ban for food service

  • 2019: FIRST STATE-WIDE FOAM BAN FOR FOOD SERVICE CONTAINERS IN THE U.S.!


Plastic Bags

  • 2009: Washington DC passes a bag bill to charge .05 for any paper/plastic bag

  • 2011: Montgomery County Council passes a bag bill to charge .05 for any paper/plastic bag

  • 2016: Plastic bags banned in Takoma Park

  • 2019: Plastic bags banned in Westminster

  • 2020: Plastic bags banned in Baltimore City


Microbeads

  • 2015: Microbeads in personal care products banned in Maryland.


More

  • 2014: New requirement for public events of 200+ to provide recycling next to trash in Maryland

  • 2014: New requirement to impose driver’s license points to be imposed on persons convicted of illegal dumping in Maryland enacted.

  • 2020: Montgomery County banned balloon releases. Queen Anne’s County and Ocean City have also banned these releases.

  • 2021: Howard County passed the Plastic Reduction Law limiting use of plastic straws, stirrers, condiment packages and food wares

  • 2023: Passed SB222 to establish an Advisory Council on Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging and to conduct a statewide recycling needs assessment

  • 2024: Paint stewardship bill passed to require a paint stewardship program

Click on the solutions below to learn more:

Plastic & Pollution | Environmental Justice | Behavior Change & Reusables | Programs | Coalitions