Why it matters: The law that takes effect on Jan. 1, 2026, honors the intent of a ban on single-use bags “enacted 10 years ago that allowed stores to sell customers thicker plastic carryout bags that were considered reusable and met certain recyclability standards,” per a statement from state Sen. Catherine Blakespear.
- Blakespear, one of the legislators behind the bill, said “the truth is almost none of those bags are reused or recycled, and they end up in landfills or polluting the environment.”
By the numbers: She pointed in an earlier statement to research showing that “the amount of grocery and merchandise bags disposed by Californians grew from 147,038 tons, or roughly 8 pounds per person, in 2004 to 231,072 tons, or roughly 11 pounds per person, in 2021.”
Zoom in: Plastic grocery bags have ranked in the top 10 most commonly collected items by California Coastal Cleanup Day volunteers in seven of the past 10 years, per an emailed statement from Anja Brandon, from the environmental nonprofit Ocean Conservancy, welcoming the new law.
What they’re saying: “Instead of being asked do you want paper or plastic at checkout, consumers will simply be asked if they want a paper bag, if they haven’t brought a reusable bag,” Blakespear said.
- “This straightforward approach is easy to follow and will help dramatically reduce plastic bag pollution.”