Governor of California signs new, strict law banning plastic bags
Starting in January of 2026, shoppers will no longer be given the choice of “paper or plastic” at grocery checkout lines in California under a new law signed Sunday by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Single-use plastic bags have been banned in grocery and convenience stores in California since 2014, when it became the first state in the nation to pass such a ban. But the new law closes up a loophole in the 2014 plastic bag ban that allowed stores to offer thicker plastic bags that were deemed reusable and recyclable, which led to a surge in the use of thicker plastic bags that were rarely reused, according to reports.
The new law, which goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2026, bans all plastic shopping bags. Consumers will be encouraged to bring their own bags or purchase recycled paper bags at checkout for a nominal fee. (The ban does not affect other bags and films used for produce or as overwrap for fresh meat.)
In addition, beginning Jan. 1, 2028, the definition of a recycled paper bag will change from one made from 40% recycled material, to one with more than 50% recycled material.
The new law was backed by the California Grocers’ Association and environmental groups.
“California’s move to ban thick single-use plastic bags at grocery store checkouts is a win for our coasts and communities,” said Christy Leavitt, plastics campaign director at Oceana, an ocean-focused environmental group. “Plastic bags are one of the deadliest types of plastic to ocean wildlife. Not only is plastic tarnishing California’s beaches, but it’s in our food, air, water, and even our bodies. With an ocean-based economy valued at $45 billion annually, California is dependent on a clean coast.”
According to the environmental advocacy group Environment America Research & Policy Center, 12 states, including California, already have some type of statewide plastic bag ban in place. Hundreds of cities across 28 states also have their own plastic bag bans in place.
