The Post reports that the Montgomery County Council has voted 8-1 in favor of instituting a five-cent bag tax in the county.

The tax is similar to the one that is currently assessed in the District on plastic and paper bags — however, Montgomery County’s tax will extend to almost all retail purchases, not just food. Initial revenues from the tax — estimated at $1 million in its first year — will be used for waterway cleanup and to supply reusable bags for senior citizens, like the District’s tax. The bill was proposed at the beginning of March by County Executive Ike Leggett; it’s the first time that Montgomery County has considered such a bag tax measure.

The tax will go into effect on January 1, 2012.