California Bans Plastic Bags at Checkouts

Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 1053, a bill that will ban plastic bags at grocery store checkouts starting in January 2026. This new law closes a loophole in the original 2014 ban (SB 270) that allowed stores to sell thicker, “reusable” plastic bags.

The thicker bags, intended to be more durable and recyclable, have instead contributed to California’s growing plastic waste problem, as few are reused or recycled. SB 1053 aims to address this issue and further reduce plastic bag pollution in the state.

Meet the Plastics

California’s journey to reduce plastic bag waste began in 2007 when then-San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom signed a law banning plastic bags in grocery stores, the first such ban in the nation. Inspired by San Francisco’s example, other cities implemented their own plastic bag bans across the state.

Building on these local efforts, California became the first state in the nation to ban single-use plastic bags with the passage of SB 270 in 2014.

This initial statewide ban was subsequently strengthened by Proposition 67, a ballot initiative approved by voters in 2016, solidifying the ban into California law. However, this law contained a loophole allowing stores to provide customers with thicker plastic bags marketed as “reusable” for a fee, as long as they met specific recycling standards.

Unfortunately, this loophole undermined the effectiveness of the initial ban. While technically reusable and recyclable, the thicker bags have proven difficult to recycle and are rarely reused by consumers. Despite the ban on single-use bags, the amount of plastic bag waste generated in California has increased.

The “Reusable” Bag Loophole

The thicker plastic bags allowed under the previous law were intended to be a more sustainable alternative to single-use bags. However, as stated in the Senate Floor Analyses for SB 1053, “the thicker ‘reusable’ bags have, in fact, not been reused and  contribute even more to plastic waste.”

A 2023 study by CalRecycle revealed that these bags are often disposed of after a single use, with the average lifespan of a plastic bag being only 12 minutes.

The increase in plastic bag waste can be attributed, in part, to the fact that the “reusable” bags are considerably thicker than the single-use bags they replaced. Along with the increasing number of bags distributed, the increased thickness of the “reusable” bags contributed to the rise in the total weight of plastic bag waste.

Furthermore, the recycling requirements defined in SB 270 proved inadequate. Although the thicker bags were supposed to be recyclable, the lack of accessible recycling infrastructure for these bags meant that few were recycled. CalRecycle classified the plastic in these “reusable” bags as “Not Recyclable.”

Closing the Loophole

The bill, which received broad support from environmental groups and passed with bipartisan support in both houses of the Legislature, amends the existing law to prohibit the distribution of all plastic bags at grocery store checkouts, effective January 1, 2026.

Under the new law, grocery stores can only offer recycled paper bags or non-plastic reusable bags at checkout. The sale of other types of bags, including reusable tote bags, will not be restricted, but they will not be available at the point of sale.

Points of sale may include but are not limited to, a checkout counter, self-checkout kiosk, in-store pickup, curbside delivery and  home delivery.

To further promote sustainability, SB 1053 includes a provision that will raise the recycled content requirement for paper bags sold in California to 50% beginning January 1, 2028.

Certain retailers like Trader Joe’s and ALDI already sell paper bags and do not use plastic bags at checkouts.

Impact of Plastic Bags

The passage of SB 1053 marks a step forward in efforts to combat plastic pollution. Plastic bags pose a serious environmental threat, persisting in landfills and polluting oceans for hundreds, if not thousands, of years.

When they enter waterways, plastic bags can harm marine life, entangling animals or being mistaken for food.

Over time, plastic bags break down into smaller and smaller particles known as microplastics, which can contaminate soil and water, potentially entering the food chain and impacting human health.

Proponents of SB 1053 argue that by eliminating the “reusable” bag loophole, the new law will significantly reduce plastic waste and encourage the use of genuinely reusable bags.

For any inquiries or further information, please contact Jose Cervantes at JoseC.Press@pm.me