California lawmakers voted to phase out reusable plastic bags after banning single-use bags failed to reduce plastic pollution.
“California’s original plastic bag ban did not work as planned, and unfortunately, since it was enacted, the state’s plastic bag waste has increased dramatically,” said Sen. Katherine Breakspear, the bill’s author., In a statement. “California must do its part to eliminate this scourge that is polluting our environment.”
California lawmakers in the Assembly and Senate on Tuesday passed two identical bills that would restrict grocery stores and retailers from providing customers with heavy-duty “reusable” bags made from plastic film.
The California Legislature has passed two identical bills that restrict grocery stores from providing customers with heavy-duty “reusable” bags made from plastic film. (Jeff Greenberg / Contributor)
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SB1053 AB 2236 would allow grocery stores to sell other types of reusable bags made from cloth, woven or other washable fibers that can carry at least 22 pounds more than 300 times, and it would also allow them to sell paper bags that contain at least 50% recycled paper to customers for at least 10 cents each.
California enacted a ban on single-use plastic bags in 2016, but the law included an exception allowing retailers to use plastic bags that have a slightly thicker film coating, can be used more than 125 times, and can carry a maximum weight of 22 pounds for a distance of 175 feet.
But efforts to reduce plastic pollution have failed because consumers treat thick, “reusable” plastic bags as disposable: The California Public Interest Research Group (CALPIRG) reported that tonnage of plastic bag waste has increased by about 47% since 2014, despite bans on disposable shopping bags.
CalRecycle has found that tonnage of plastic bag waste has increased by about 47% since 2014, despite the ban on single-use shopping bags. (Getty Images)
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“California’s current plastic bag ban, which allows stores to swap out thin plastic bags for reusable ones at the register, is clearly not working,” said Jen Engstrom, California State Director for CALPIRG. Tuesday’s statement.
“Plastic companies that mass-produce thick bags circumvent the law,” she continued, “and inevitably, discarded bags pollute our communities and the environment. We’re grateful that the Legislature has finally taken action to ban plastic shopping bags outright.”
The bill will be reconciled in both houses before heading to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk. If signed into law, the ban on reusable plastic bags would go into effect on Jan. 1, 2026.
