No More Plastic Bags at stores in California

[Beringia]

California supermarkets to undergo major change in 2026

https://www.sfgate.com/food/article/california-supermarkets-major-change-2026-21221261.php

.webp

A big change is coming to California supermarkets: The days of a cashier asking “paper or plastic?” are soon to be long gone. Starting Jan. 1, 2026, grocery stores, pharmacies, liquor and convenience stores are set to be banned from distributing any type of plastic bag at the checkout line, even the thicker reusable ones that became common during the pandemic. Moving forward, only paper bags made from recycled material will be offered at the point of sale.

Senate Bill 1053, which was co-authored by state Sen. Catherine Blakespear of District 38 in Southern California, eliminates the thicker plastic bag exemption from previous law. Under SB 270, the language of “single-use carryout bags” allowed for a loophole that plastic bag manufacturers seized on. Thicker plastic bags were not deemed “single use” because they could technically be reused up to 125 times, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. (The Chronicle and SFGATE are both owned by Hearst but have separate newsrooms.) SB 1053, which was signed into law in 2024, now defines “single-use carryout bags” as simply “carryout bags” and closes that loophole.

“This measure will eliminate the estimated 2-3 billion plastic grocery bags that continue to be distributed in the state annually,” Mark Murray, the executive director of Californians Against Waste, told SFGATE via email. The nonprofit advocacy group focuses on developing policy solutions for pollution and waste that threaten the public and environment, according to its website.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. All well and good, and I approve.

But. What about the plastic bags in the produce area? Are they going to vanish too?

Or did I miss something?

The article only refers to plastic bags at the checkout.

[LoisB]

4. I believe those green produce bags are supposed to be biodegradable.

[progree]

2. Our HOA requires we put all non-recyclable trash in plastic bags

What I do is if its food stuff that can liquify or mushify and leak, I put in plastic bags.

For trash that doesn't have that problem, in violation of HOA rules, I put in a paper bag, and put a paper bag over that, and tie the handles (they make a big hoohah about loose stuff coming out and flying all over the place when the trucks pick up the dumpsters and turn them upside down).

I do put recyclables in the recycle bin and they don't tell us to bag them, so much for the loose stuff argument I guess.

I read that plastic bags in recyclables is a no-no as they get stuck in recycling machines and jam them.

As for carrying groceries, I have tote bags (some plastic, some cloth) that I reuse over and over again, continually patching holes with duct tape, so it's a lot of labor.

HOA = Homeowners Association. (note I'm in Minnesota, not California)

[Beringia]

5. I couldn't find a good answer for bagging produce or things like a package of hamburger

I have a friend who works at Target in Long Beach, California. I'll ask her about it

I bought 50 count reusable cotton bags, and I had so many, I gave half away to the Goodwill

Simply Cool Reusable Grocery Bags Eco-Friendly - Large Reusable Shopping Bags, Heavy Duty Grocery Bags, (14.5" x 14"x 6.6" )Foldable, Tote Bags Bulk $60 on Amazon

[progree]

7. Thanks. I especially like that there is a black color option /nt

[2naSalit]

3. Already a thing...

Here in Maine. Bring your own bags is the rule,you can have paper if you run out of room or just forgot your bags. Most bring them. I have quite the stash of bags already but now I have a lot more and keep at least some of them in my vehicle so they are always available. I like it, there aren't plastic bags stuck in trees all over the place and it's just so much nicer.

Good for California,a major west coast improvement with just that one change.

[dickthegrouch]

6. I agree mostly

But when it’s raining those paper bags are useless

[progree]

8. Or if the ground is wet or snow and one has to set bags down for one reason or another

Last edited Fri Jan 2, 2026, 05:47 AM - Edit history (2)

and gets the bottom of the bags wet. I carry them more than half a mile and have to set them down about every 2 blocks to rest my arms momentarily, sometimes more often than that.

I take the bus part way, and walk the rest of the way home. While waiting for the bus, am I supposed to keep holding the paper bags up off the ground for like 10 minutes? I typically get $90 to $150 worth of groceries, and I stuff what I can in my backpack, but the rest I have to carry in hand.

(I've been experimenting with hanging some from shoulders, using various schemes and devices to keep them from slipping off my shoulders -- simply tying the bag straps together in front doesn't work. Sometimes I have to set all that down to rearrange and reposition, or simply because I need some momentary relief from the burden).

And, paper bag handles are not made for long-distance walking in my experience. (In fairness neither are regular store-supplied plastic bags, one has to double-up or pack each bag lightly, which is about the same thing).

Anyway, like I say in #2, I always bring my own tote bags. If per chance I decide at the last minute to get groceries (or something else), and didn't bring the tote bags, it looks like I'm out of luck, or to keep it to a small number of items.

[Rhiannon12866]

9. We've long had that change here in New York, only reusable bags or paper are allowed

But then there's the miscalculation of seeing so much else in the grocery stores wrapped in plastic, from fruits, vegetables, meat and even paper products!