California Plastic Ban: New Bill May Prohibit Use of Plastic Shopping Bags at Grocery, Food Stores Starting January 2026

Plastic shopping bags can be potentially removed from grocery stores and food stores across California if a new proposed bill is approved into law, according to the California State Senate.

The new measure means that starting January 2026, customers in commercial establishments will be prohibited from purchasing all plastic bags, including those thicker ones labeled as "reusable" that are currently in circulation.

The proposed bill, announced by several California senate members, earlier this week is not the first time the state proposed a plastic bag ban. In 2014, state legislators also ratified a law that aimed to discourage single-use plastic bags. However, there have been reported loopholes in the decade-long measure, which has led to the conceptualization of an extended or updated version of the initial California plastic ban.

This comes amid the persistent plastic pollution problem not only in the Golden State and the United States but also worldwide. Over the decades, plastic materials have significantly accumulated in both terrestrial and marine ecosystems, affecting both humans and wildlife. Furthermore, scientists have also found the unprecedented presence of microplastics and nanoplastics from broken-down whole plastics in the air.

California Plastic Ban

In a press release on Thursday, February 8, members of the California State Senate, including Senator Catherine Blakespear, announced that they are introducing legislation that would ban the use of plastic bags from groceries and "stores that sell food." The legislators at a Capitol press conference were joined by environmental groups and other supporters of the California plastic ban advocacy.

Sen. Blakespear emphasized that Earth is "choking" with plastic waste as reported in recent years, adding it is time to improve the state's original plastic bags ban. This can be accomplished by completely removing plastic bags from being used at grocery stores, the senator added.

The introduction of the legislation addresses California's plastic pollution, which clogs sewage drains and contaminate drinking water.

If the current bill becomes a law, all stores in California would be required by January 1, 2026, to provide consumers or customers with recycled paper bags or reusable bags that are completely non-film plastic. Meanwhile, consumers can still use their reusable bags which they have bought or received before January 2026.

Plastic Pollution

Plastic pollution is one of the growing environmental problems of the world in modern times, with roots dating back more than 100 years ago. During this period, plastic production has eventually increased, with most of the materials ending in landfills and other sites, including the world's oceans. Not only does this pollution affect the environment but it also poses harmful and life-threatening risks to aquatic animals.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), we produce an estimated 400 million tons of plastic waste annually. If this trend continues, the global production of primary plastic, including single-use plastic products, is expected to reach 1,100 million tons by the year 2050, the UNEP reported.