California lawmakers decided to stop using thicker, “reusable” plastic bags in stores because getting rid of single-use plastic bags didn’t help reduce plastic waste.
The new bills, SB 1053 and AB 2236, would make it so stores can’t give customers thicker plastic bags anymore. Instead, they can sell bags made of cloth or other washable material that can carry at least 22 pounds and be used at least 300 times. Stores can also sell paper bags with at least 50% recycled paper for at least 10 cents each.
Back in 2016, California banned single-use plastic bags, but stores were allowed to use thicker bags that could be used more than once and carry more weight. However, this didn’t work well because people treated these thicker bags as if they were disposable. As a result, there has been a big increase in plastic bag waste since 2014.
The current law allowing these thicker bags isn’t effective, according to Jenn Engstrom from CALPIRG. She says that plastic companies make these bags to get around the law, but then people end up throwing them away, causing pollution. She’s glad the lawmakers are now trying to ban plastic grocery bags completely.
The bills still need to be reviewed and then signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom. If approved, the ban on reusable plastic bags would start on January 1, 2026.