In California, shoppers will no longer be offered plastic bags at the grocery store checkout. Under a new law, effective January 1, 2026, single-use shopping bags are banned from any point of sale. This includes bags made from plastic, paper, or other materials that are not recycled paper or certified reusable bags. However, the ban does not apply to bags used before the point of sale, such as produce bags and overwrap for fresh meat.

Single-use carryout bags were first banned in California in 2014, making it the first state in the United States to pass such a ban. However, then Senate Bill 270 allowed the use of thicker plastic bags that were deemed reusable and recyclable. This loophole led to a surge in the use of thicker bags in stores, which consumers generally did not reuse or recycle, resulting in an increased amount of plastic waste.

Senate Bill 1053 closes the loophole and encourages consumers to bring their own reusable bags to stores, or they can purchase recycled paper bags at checkout. Currently, a recycled paper bag must contain a minimum of 40% recycled material. Beginning January 1, 2028, the definition of a recycled paper bag will change to one with more than 50% recycled material.

Chloe Dupre, law clerk, contributed to this article.