California Bans All Plastic Bags After Its First Effort Backfired

California has enacted a new law banning all plastic bags, effective in 2026, following the failure of its initial ban on single-use plastic bags in 2014. The original legislation aimed to reduce plastic waste but inadvertently led to an increase in plastic bag usage due to a loophole that allowed retailers to sell thicker, reusable plastic bags for a fee. Data from CalRecycle indicated that Californians discarded nearly 50% more plastic bags by weight in 2021 compared to 2014. The new law, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, prohibits the sale of all plastic bags at grocery checkouts, leaving paper bags as the only option for customers without reusable bags, which will cost 10 cents each. Environmental advocates argue that this change is necessary to combat pollution, as plastic bags can take hundreds of years to decompose and contribute to microplastic contamination. Critics, including representatives from the plastics industry, argue that the law could negatively impact jobs and tax revenues and that paper bags may be less convenient for certain consumers. The legislation reflects California's ongoing leadership in environmental policy, following its earlier initiatives to ban plastic bags in cities like San Francisco.

- California has banned all plastic bags, effective 2026, after the initial ban led to increased plastic waste.

- The loophole in the original ban allowed thicker plastic bags, which contributed to higher disposal rates.

- Paper bags will be the only option at grocery checkouts, costing 10 cents each.

- Environmentalists support the ban, citing pollution and microplastic concerns.

- Critics warn of potential job losses and inconvenience for consumers reliant on public transport.