Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill banning all plastic shopping bags at grocery store checkouts in California.
The new California law banning plastic shopping bags at grocery store checkouts is set to take effect on January 1, 2026.
This new law builds on a ban enacted 10 years ago that allowed thicker, supposedly reusable plastic bags.
State Sen. Catherine Blakespear noted that most of these thicker bags are not reused or recycled, ending up in landfills or polluting the environment.
Plastic bag disposal in California increased from 8 pounds per person in 2004 to 11 pounds per person in 2021.
Plastic grocery bags consistently rank among the top 10 items collected during California Coastal Cleanup Days.
The Ocean Conservancy states that plastic grocery bags are one of the top five deadliest forms of plastic pollution for marine life.
Shoppers will now be asked if they want a paper bag if they haven't brought a reusable one, simplifying the checkout process.
The American Recyclable Plastic Bag Alliance expressed disappointment, warning of potential increased use of imported non-recyclable plastic-cloth bags.