By Abigail Ofous
Trinity Times Correspondent

As someone who has long encouraged sustainable habits on campus and in her daily life, Trinity Washington University student Lucila Ramos-Gonzalez sees reusable bags as more than a trend – but as a simple way to reduce waste and protect the environment.

So when new grocery bag regulations took effect in Maryland and Washington D.C., Ramos-Gonzalez, who’s familiar with both areas said the change barely affected her routine because she had already been using reusable bags for years.

For some other Trinity students and staff, however, adjusting to the new rules has been less seamless. While supporters view the policy as an important environmental measure, others say remembering reusable bags or paying additional fees for disposable ones can feel inconvenient.

“If you’re a shopper, you’re probably already carrying a reusable bag,” Ramos-Gonzalez said. “It doesn’t really impact you unless you’re buying a lot.”

Across the country, cities and counties are passing new laws to reduce single-use plastic bags. In Maryland, several jurisdictions, such as Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Anne Arundel County and Montgomery County, have enacted their own bans on plastic checkout bags that are usually paired with small fees on paper bags ranging from 5 to 10 cents.

The District of Columbia, meanwhile, still allows plastic bags but charges a nickel for both plastic and paper. For Trinity students and staff who move between the two areas, the differing local rules can shape their shopping in unexpected ways.

That’s when the new policy felt less like a gentle nudge toward sustainability and more like an inconvenient push.

Ramos-Gonzalez, a sophomore nursing major, believes that stores could make the transition easier. For instance, she said, customers could sign up for rewards programs to receive a free reusable bag. This would help those who shop frequently and don’t always have an extra bag on hand, she said.

Lowering the cost could also make the adjustment easier, Ramos-Gonzalez said, adding that she believes 10 cents is too high and that 5 cents is more reasonable.

Despite this inconvenience, Ramos-Gonzalez said she understands why lawmakers implemented the policy. Plastic doesn’t dissolve, and she believes paper bags are better for the environment even if the change feels minimal in her own routine.

Others on campus note that the policy affects people differently, depending on their routines and resources.

Christy Ramos, a senior psychology major minoring in fine arts, believes in moving away from single-use plastic bags. She likes the environmental intention behind this shift but finds paper bags flimsy and impractical in daily use.

Ramos has used fabric or velvet-style bags to carry items. She also views paper bags as unreliable, noting that they are also not sterile.

“And when it’s raining or snowing, people carry groceries in paper bags,” she said, noting many people ride bikes. “That’s just difficult.”

To Ramos, the issue isn’t sustainability; it’s usefulness. A policy made to reduce waste shouldn’t make daily life harder for people and for delivery drivers doing their best to get by.

Staff members are feeling the shift, too.

At Trinity’s Cuvilly Cafe, server Donita Brooks sees the bag ban from the perspective of someone who shops often in person at grocery stores like Giant and Shoppers. However, the shift has felt like an extra step – functional in its environmental goal, but frustrating in the day-to-day moments when paper bags tear or don’t hold up well.

“I know it’s environmentally friendly, so that’s fine,” Brooks said. “It’s just an inconvenience sometimes, carrying a paper bag with no handles, one that might break. It’s one of those minor frustrations you get throughout the day, but it’s not that big of a deal.”

For some, like Ramos-Gonzalez, the shift is about preparation – remembering reusable bags and finding small ways to make the new routine work. For others, like Ramos, the change feels like a small disruption layered into the demands of shopping and juggling responsibilities. And for Brooks, the ban has unexpectedly become more manageable, even useful in her routine.

Brooks typically relies on plastic bags, though she occasionally uses reusable ones. She appreciates the environmental benefits of the sturdier reusable options, especially the handles, but she also found an unexpected benefit to the new paper bag policy.

The change has given her a way to create a system for sorting recyclables, she said.

“It’s way easier now,” Brooks said. “When I go grocery shopping, I use those paper bags for recycling at home. I put soda cans or whatever else in there.”