A new survey by the Montgomery County Sierra Club found that fewer than 2% of shopping trips now use plastic carryout bags, highlighting a sharp decline since the County’s Bring Your Own Bag law took effect in January 2026.
According to the survey, just 1.4% of shoppers were observed using plastic bags or a combination of plastic and paper bags after the law went into effect. Before the law, about half of shoppers used plastic bags or a mix of plastic and paper, while the other half used reusable bags or no bag at all. Following implementation, nearly 72% of shoppers were using reusable bags or no bag.
The Bring Your Own Bag law, sponsored by Montgomery County Councilmember Kate Stewart, prohibits retailers from providing single-use plastic carryout bags and increased the fee for paper bags from 5 cents to 10 cents. Half of the fee goes to retailers, while the remaining five cents supports the County’s Water Quality Protection Charge fund.
“The Sierra Club survey results show incredible progress and decisive action by County residents and retailers toward zero waste and residents bringing their own reusable bags,” Stewart said.
The law was designed to reduce plastic waste, simplify compliance for retailers, and generate additional funding for water quality protection projects throughout Montgomery County.
The complete survey results are available on the Sierra Club webpage.
