California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed a bill Sunday that will prevent grocery stores from providing plastic bags to customers beginning in 2026.
The legislation comes 10 years after the state banned plastic grocery bags and required stores to distribute reusable or recyclable plastic bags.
State Sen. Catherine Blakespear (D) described the new measure as a “straightforward” approach to reducing pollution.
“Instead of being asked do you want paper or plastic at checkout, consumers will simply be asked if they want a paper bag, if they haven’t brought a reusable bag. This straightforward approach is easy to follow and will help dramatically reduce plastic bag pollution,” she said in a statement.
According to the California Public Interest Research Group (CALPIRG), an advocacy organization, only 2 percent of customers were reusing the plastic bags provided from stores, as they are harder to recycle. Not a single municipal recycling facility in California accepts them, the Los Angeles Times reported.
“Nothing we use for just a few minutes should pollute the environment for centuries,” said Laura Deehan, a CALPIRG state director. “We’re hopeful that this important update to our plastic bag law will reduce plastic pollution, reduce needless waste and build a cleaner, greener future for everyone
The Hill has reached out to Newsom’s office for comment.