Summary
Starting in 2026, California will ban plastic shopping bags in stores. This law aims to reduce environmental harm caused by plastic bags. Customers without their own bags can request a paper bag.
Key Facts
- California will stop offering plastic bags in stores starting in 2026.
- The law applies to most grocery stores, pharmacies, convenience stores, food marts, and liquor stores.
- The ban is part of a law passed in 2024 and takes full effect on January 1, 2026.
- Plastic bags are harmful to the environment, taking a long time to break down and often ending up as litter.
- Plastic bags can be mistaken for food by wildlife, causing injury or death.
- Microplastics from degraded plastic bags can contaminate water and soil, affecting ecosystems and human health.
- California voters approved a plastic bag ban almost a decade ago, but the law needed updates.
- On average, a plastic bag is used for about 12 minutes but can pollute for many years.
