Montgomery County considering changes to bag tax

Associated Press//March 21, 2013//

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ROCKVILLE — Montgomery County is considering changing its five-cent tax on bags.

The county began collecting the tax for every bag shoppers take home from stores in 2012. Radio station WTOP reports lawmakers will take a look at altering the law and perhaps creating exceptions. Changes could include restricting the tax to grocery stores or banning plastic bags altogether.

The tax was meant to discourage use of plastic, disposable bags to make up for litter found in streams and ponds. It’s meant to encourage use of reusable bags.

The District of Columbia created the region’s first bag fee in 2010.