DEP News

Friday, June 03, 2011

Carryout bag charge to make gains in the County’s Litter Control Efforts

Starting January 1, 2012 all County retailers will charge customers five cents for each paper or plastic carryout bag used to take out purchases at the point of sale, or pickup or delivery.  The nominal nickel charge has been found in neighboring jurisdiction Washington DC, to be the right price-point to change the prevailing practice of packaging any purchase.  Washington DC's Bag Law (The Anacostia River Protection Act) has been in place for one year, and has documented results such as:

•  Reductions in disposable bag use by 60–70 percent (as reported by businesses)
•  Reductions in the number of plastic bags being pulled from local streams and waterways by 65 percent (reported by environmental groups)
•  Reductions in the use of paper and plastic single-use bags from 22.5 million to 3.2 million after the law took effect (reported by the District’s Chief Financial Officer)
•  Revenue generated by the fee is going back into the community for trash reduction and clean-up efforts

Plastic bags often wind up as litter in local storm drains, streams and eventually our rivers.  Studies of trash conducted in the Anacostia watershed have shown that plastic bags are one of the top four components of the litter found in streams.

Revenues from the bag charge will be dedicated to the Water Quality Protection Charge and be used for litter control programs, watershed protection activities, and for reusable bag distribution to low-income residents.  The County spent $3 million in litter reduction and control programs in 2009.  The bag charge offers retail consumers a choice of bringing their own bag and avoiding the 5-cent fee, and in doing so, shifts the burden from all County tax payers to retail consumers who chose to take a carryout bag for their purchases.  Bill 8-11 was passed in a County Council session on May 3rd, 2011 and signed into Law on May 11, 2011.

CATEGORIES: watershed , litter
POSTED: 3:25:00 PM |

Friday, June 03, 2011

Welcome Green Community Partners

This spring, both Silver Spring Green and Green Wheaton became officially incorporated in the State of Maryland.  They join Poolesville Green, which was granted 501(C)(3) status last year.

The organizations are generally modeled after Bethesda Green (but with their own distinct flavor).  They are unique in that they intentionally connect the dots among businesses, residents, civic groups and government; they stay clear of advocacy and policy debates; and seek to simultaneously enhance our environment, economy and shared sense of (local) community. Bethesda Green was established about three years ago.

CATEGORIES: Partners , Community
POSTED: 10:27:00 AM |

Friday, June 03, 2011

ARRA-funded Energy Programs in the County

The Commercial/Multi-Family Rebate Program is one of the seven activities under the County’s $7.6 million ARRA-funded Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Grant from the US Department of Energy. Through the program, approximately $1.7 million in funding will be provided to commercial and multi-family property owners to implement energy efficiency measures such as improved lighting, heating and cooling equipment, and energy management systems. Approximately half of the funding will be allocated to projects identified during the first round of the application process, which closed April 15th. The closing date of the second round of applications, through which the remaining funds will be allocated, was May 16th. A companion residential program, with $1.1 million in total funding, is scheduled to be launched in late June. Learn more about ARRA-funded energy efficiency programs in the County.

CATEGORIES: Energy
POSTED: 10:22:00 AM |