Baltimore Mayor Bernard C. "Jack" Young plans to sign the plastic bag ban into law Monday in an attempt to crack down on single-use bag pollution, according to a spokesman.

At a National Aquarium event Monday, Young will approve the bill that would ban retailers from using plastic bags in most situations and institute a 5-cent fee for other bags, according to a spokesman.

The Baltimore City Council passed the bill nearly unopposed in early November 2019. Councilwoman Danielle McCray was the only member to vote against it, stating that she supports the ban, but believes the fee to be a regressive tax on low- and fixed-income residents. 

In November, Councilman Bill Henry thanked activists who had fought for the measure, "not just on this most recent incarnation but for all of the times that we have tried over the entire time I've been on the council ... We have been trying for many years to reduce the proliferation of single-use plastic in Baltimore City."

Henry proposed the Comprehensive Bag Reduction bill in June after lawmakers attempted to push the ban nine times since 2006.