BALTIMORE (AP) - The city of Baltimore has delayed implementing its ban on single-use plastic bags, citing economic hardships created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ban was supposed to take effect next week, but not will be implemented on July 9, The Baltimore Sun reported.
Mayor Brandon Scott said it’s not responsible to implement the ban right now because residents who are out of work and local businesses are hurting due to the pandemic.
Scott’s executive order said the ban could be pushed back further, but will take effect no later than 30 days after the expiration of the governor’s coronavirus state of emergency.
The ban requires city shoppers to bring their own reusable bags to stores, buy a reusable one, or pay at least 5 cents for each paper or compostable bag provided at checkout.
The city had hoped to have thousands of reusable grocery bags to distribute to residents, but had far fewer than expected when Scott took office last month.
Local business owners complained that the ban, signed into law about a year ago, would have required restaurants and retailers to switch to paper or other bags at a time when many have closed and others are operating with limited capacity because of the pandemic.
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