If you plan on going grocery shopping in California, it’s best to bring your own bags.
That’s the implicit message from Governor Gavin Newsom, who announced that all grocery stores will ban plastic bags at checkouts starting in 2026, offering only paper bags instead.
The decision marks an important development in California’s ongoing fight against plastic pollution, expanding on previous measures that allowed the sale of thicker plastic bags advertised as reusable and recyclable, while restricting thinner ones.
State Sen. Katherine Breakspear, a vocal supporter of the legislation, highlighted the shortcomings of previous regulations and pointed to an alarming trend: The amount of plastic bags discarded per person has skyrocketed from 8 pounds in 2004 to 11 pounds in 2021.
“We are literally choking the planet with plastic waste,” she said, stressing the urgency of addressing the environmental impact of plastics.
A plastic bag is placed along a road in Sacramento, California, on Oct. 25, 2013, after California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that grocery stores will no longer sell plastic bags after 2026. A plastic bag is placed along a road in Sacramento, California, on Oct. 25, 2013, after California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that grocery stores will no longer sell plastic bags after 2026. Rich Pedroncelli/AP
The new law, which simplifies checkout options by offering only paper bags to people who don’t bring their own, has been widely supported by environmental groups.
Oceana, a leading nonprofit focused on ocean conservation, said the bill is an important step toward protecting California’s pristine coastline and vibrant marine life.
Christy Leavitt, Oceana’s director of plastics, said the ban strengthens California’s position as a pioneer in the fight against the global plastic pollution crisis.
The proposal would mean California would join a growing movement: Twelve states currently have statewide plastic bag bans, and hundreds of cities in 28 states have similar regulations.
The origins of California’s plastic bag ban date back to 2014, when the state legislature first passed a statewide ban, which was then approved by voters in a 2016 referendum.
Jen Engstrom, president of the California Public Interest Research Group, said the new law fulfills its original mandate to phase out plastic bags.
She said: “Plastic bags pollute the environment, break down into microplastics that contaminate drinking water and threaten our health. With the Governor’s signature, California has finally implemented a total ban on plastic bags at grocery store checkouts.”
Governor Newsom’s efforts to reduce plastic waste are nothing new: As mayor of San Francisco in 2007, he signed the nation’s first plastic bag ban.
His call for new regulations reflects a broader movement across the United States toward sustainability and environmental responsibility.
Many see this latest bill as a decisive step for California toward a more sustainable future, setting a strong example for other states to follow.
This story contains reporting from the Associated Press
