For the second time this year, the city of Baltimore has delayed the implementation date of its local ban on the use of plastic bags. The ban was originally scheduled to take effect on January 13, but in light of the pandemic, that date was pushed off until today, July 9. Then, explaining that the city needed more time to distribute reusable bags and educate its residents about the ban, Mayor Brandon Scott signed another Executive Order a few weeks ago again pushing the effective date off until October 1, 2021. Under the terms of the pending ban, shoppers in grocery stores, restaurants and other retail outlets must bring their own reusable bags or they purchase a paper or compostable bag for 5 cents apiece.