California Governor Signs Law Banning All Plastic Shopping Bags at Grocery Stores Starting in 2026

California will eliminate the option of choosing between paper or plastic bags at grocery stores due to a new law signed by Governor Gavin Newsom. This legislation, effective from 2026, prohibits all plastic shopping bags. Previously, only thin plastic bags were banned, but thicker ones deemed reusable and recyclable were allowed. Now, shoppers without their own bags will be offered paper bags instead.

State Senator Catherine Blakespear, a supporter of the bill, highlighted that people were neither reusing nor recycling plastic bags. A state study revealed an increase in plastic bag waste per person from 8 pounds (3.6 kilograms) in 2004 to 11 pounds (5 kilograms) in 2021. Blakespear noted that the earlier ban from a decade ago failed to curb overall plastic usage.

Environmental Impact and Advocacy

The environmental group Oceana praised Newsom for signing the bill, which they believe protects California's coastline, marine life, and communities from single-use plastic bags. Christy Leavitt, Oceana's plastics campaign director, stated that this ban reinforces California's leadership in addressing global plastic pollution.

According to Environment America Research & Policy Centre, twelve states, including California, have some form of statewide plastic bag ban. Additionally, hundreds of cities across 28 states have implemented their own bans. California's statewide ban was initially passed in 2014 and later confirmed by voters in a 2016 referendum.

Historical Context and Legislative Support

The California Public Interest Research Group expressed that the new law finally aligns with the original intent of the bag ban. Jenn Engstrom, the group's director, remarked that "Plastic bags create pollution in our environment and break into microplastics that contaminate our drinking water and threaten our health." She added that Californians voted for this ban nearly a decade ago, but it required revision to be effective.

Governor Newsom has a history with plastic bag bans; as San Francisco's mayor in 2007, he enacted the nation's first such ban. This new law is seen as a continuation of his efforts to reduce plastic waste and its environmental impact.

This legislative move marks a significant step for California in its ongoing battle against plastic pollution. By banning all plastic shopping bags at checkout lines, the state aims to reduce environmental harm and promote sustainable practices among consumers.