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Prince George's County spends more than $2.5 million each year picking up litter. A major culprit in the county is plastic bags, which clog waterways and storm drains, and create visual blight in our neighborhoods. A fee on plastic and paper bags will encourage shoppers to use reusable bags, reducing the litter problem, while saving the local government and local businesses money.

Washington, DC, and Montgomery County already have this program in place. In the two years since DC's fee took effect, plastic bag use has dropped 50% or more, reducing litter and bags in the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers, and saving even mom-and-pop retailers more than $1,000 per year. It has also raised more than $3 million for river restoration projects, creating jobs and making important strides in water quality.

If you live in the county, sign this petition to urge our state representatives to give Prince George's County the power to do the same for our environment. (Please only sign if you live or work in the county; out of area signatures are counterproductive.)

This campaign is supported by the Alice Ferguson Foundation, Anacostia Watershed Restoration Partnership, Anacostia Watershed Society, Clean Water Action, Patuxent Riverkeeper, Sierra Club Maryland Chapter, Surfrider Foundation DC Chapter, and the Trash Free Maryland Alliance. Click here for more information about the legislation.