California bans all plastic bags at checkout

California bans all plastic bags at checkout

California closed a decade-old loophole in its plastic bag law on Jan. 1, 2026.

Senate Bill 1053 now bans all plastic bags at checkout, including the thicker bags stores had been selling as “reusable” for years. Shoppers can bring any bag from home or buy a recycled paper bag for at least 10 cents.

The law covers grocery stores, convenience stores, food marts, liquor stores, and large retail stores with a pharmacy.

The 2014 ban actually made things worse

California first banned thin plastic bags in 2014 under SB 270, and voters backed it in 2016 with 53% of the vote. But the law had a gap.

Stores could still sell thicker plastic bags labeled “reusable” for 10 cents each. Most shoppers threw them away just like the thin ones.

According to CalRecycle, the total weight of plastic bags thrown away by Californians grew about 47% between 2014 and 2022, from roughly 157,000 tons to around 231,000 tons.

Why the thicker bags added up fast

The numbers got worse because the thicker “reusable” bags contained far more plastic per bag than the thin ones they replaced.

So even if slightly fewer bags moved through checkout, the total plastic going to landfills kept climbing. State Sen. Catherine Blakespear, a Democrat from Encinitas, wrote SB 1053 to close that gap for good.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed it in September 2024, giving businesses a full year to prepare before it took effect.

What shoppers see at checkout now

Stores no longer offer any plastic bags at checkout, thick or thin.

If you do not bring your own bag, the only option is a recycled paper bag for a minimum of 10 cents, though some stores may charge more.

Shoppers who receive WIC or SNAP food assistance do not pay the bag fee and get paper bags at no cost. Any bag from home works, including cloth totes, insulated bags, or older reusable bags you already own.

Some bags are still allowed in stores

Not every bag disappears under the new law. Thin bags in the produce section for items like loose fruit or bulk nuts are still allowed if they are compostable or made of recycled paper.

Bags used to wrap meat, seafood, or other unwrapped items before checkout are also exempt. Pharmacy bags for prescriptions remain allowed.

The CalRecycle official page on SB 1053 bag requirements outlines exactly which bags qualify and under what conditions.

Paper bag rules get tougher by 2028

Paper bags at checkout must now contain at least 40% postconsumer recycled material. That minimum jumps to 50% on Jan. 1, 2028.

Bags must also be labeled with the manufacturer’s name, country of origin, and the recycled content percentage. Those rules push retailers toward better materials over time.

Stores not covered by the original 2014 ban, including clothing retailers and restaurants, do not fall under SB 1053.

Bag makers paid millions to settle

Enforcement started before the law even took effect.

In October 2025, California Attorney General Rob Bonta settled with four plastic bag manufacturers who agreed to stop selling plastic bags in the state and pay about $1.75 million.

Then, in January 2026, the attorney general announced a $3.35 million settlement with three more manufacturers. Across all seven companies, total penalties exceeded $5.1 million.

A state investigation found that out of 69 recycling facilities surveyed, only two claimed to accept plastic bags, and neither could confirm the bags were actually recycled.

California joins 11 other states

California is now one of 12 states with a statewide ban on single-use plastic bags.

The others are Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington. No federal law bans plastic bags across the country.

Most of these states also charge a fee for paper bags, typically between 5 and 12 cents.

An Earth911 report from February 2026 on the state of plastic bans in the United States shows the trend has grown steadily since 2014.

Small stores face a bigger hit than chains

Paper bags cost more than plastic bags did. Some store owners say paper bags run about 25% more than the plastic bags they replaced.

Those higher costs could show up as higher bag fees or slightly higher prices on other items. Larger chain stores have more buying power and may absorb the added expense more easily.

Independent shops with thinner margins may feel the pressure more.

Critics say paper bags are not perfect either

Not everyone sees the new law as a full solution. Some analysts have pointed to research showing that when paper bags are offered for free, paper bag use rises sharply, and paper production carries its own environmental costs.

Supporters of SB 1053 say the law addresses those concerns by keeping the 10-cent minimum charge on paper bags.

A study published in the journal Science in June 2025 found that plastic bag bans and fees led to a 25% to 47% drop in plastic bags collected during shoreline cleanups.

What the new rules mean for your next trip

If you shop at a grocery store, convenience store, or pharmacy in California, bring a bag or plan to pay at least 10 cents for a paper one.

Any durable bag works, including cloth totes, insulated bags, or older reusable bags you already have at home. WIC and SNAP recipients are not charged for paper bags.

The law does not stop anyone from buying plastic trash bags or using plastic bags at stores not covered by the ban, like clothing retailers.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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