Montgomery County Government is reminding residents that the Bring Your Own Bag law takes effect Jan. 1, 2026, eliminating plastic carryout bags and adding a 10 cent fee on paper bags.
The new law, passed earlier this year by the Montgomery County Council, is designed to reduce plastic waste, improve water quality, and encourage the use of reusable bags.
Businesses operating in municipalities that have not adopted the law or passed a plastic bag ban are exempt from the countywide prohibition on plastic carryout bags. In those municipalities, businesses may continue to provide plastic carryout bags but are required to charge a 10-cent tax on all bags distributed.
These municipalities include the Town of Barnesville, Chevy Chase Village, Chevy Chase Section 3, the City of Gaithersburg, the Town of Garrett Park, the Town of Glen Echo, the Village of Martin’s Addition, the Town of Somerset, and the Town of Washington Grove.
The law also provides exemptions for certain transactions and uses. Retailers may not charge or collect a bag tax on any transaction in which any portion of the purchase is paid for with a food assistance program. Restaurants are exempt from the bag tax when providing bags for prepared food, leftovers, takeout, or drive-through orders. Plastic bags may continue to be used for bulk or perishable items such as produce, meat, and fish, and certain paper bags are exempt from the 10-cent fee.