California Bans All Plastic Bags from Grocery Stores by 2026

California is set to eliminate all plastic bags from grocery stores by the end of 2025, following a significant legal settlement announced by Attorney General Rob Bonta. This agreement, reached on October 17, 2025, impacts four major plastic bag manufacturers and reinforces state laws aimed at reducing environmental pollution.

The movement to ban plastic bags began in 2016 when California voters approved Proposition 67, which prohibited supermarkets and retail stores from providing most single-use plastic bags. The law allowed for thicker “reusable” plastic bags, but the recent settlement has now extended the ban to include these as well. Under the terms of the settlement, the four companies—Revolution Sustainable Solutions, Metro Poly, PreZero US Packaging, and Advance Polybag—will collectively pay $1.7 million in penalties for violating state laws by marketing bags that are not recyclable.

Bonta emphasized the environmental consequences of plastic bags, stating, “Billions of plastic carryout bags end up in landfills, incinerators, and the environment instead of being recycled as the bags proclaim.” The new state law, effective January 1, 2026, will phase out all thicker plastic carryout bags from grocery stores, making it clear that California is committed to environmental sustainability.

The attorney general’s office noted that investigations revealed that these thicker bags were not being recycled as claimed. Bonta’s office surveyed 69 waste processing and recycling facilities and found that only two accepted plastic bags, and even they could not confirm that the bags were recycled. “These bags are not recyclable at any meaningful scale anywhere in California,” he asserted, indicating that manufacturers had been falsely advertising their products.

Environmental advocates welcomed the announcement, asserting that the ban will significantly reduce litter and its harmful effects on wildlife. Nick Lapis, director of advocacy for Californians Against Waste, expressed satisfaction with the settlement, highlighting the absurdity of using a product for mere minutes that lasts for centuries in the environment. He noted, “Plastic bags end up in the environment. They are eaten by marine mammals. They cause litter.”

The impact of plastic bags on California’s environment has been evident over the years. In 2009, plastic grocery bags comprised 8.7% of litter collected during the annual Coastal Cleanup Day, whereas this figure dropped to just 1.6% last year. Eben Schwartz, marine debris program manager at the California Coastal Commission, remarked, “If anyone ever tells you plastic bag bans don’t work, this proves them wrong. It’s a huge success story.”

Despite environmental benefits, some opposition remains. Critics from the Republican Party and certain retail associations have described California’s plastic bag regulations as excessive, arguing they infringe on consumer choice. Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher criticized the measures, stating, “I don’t see there’s a big need for it. Let people make the decisions they want to make.”

While California will see a comprehensive ban on thicker plastic bags, some exceptions will remain. Thin plastic bags, often used for produce and meat, will still be allowed, and certain retail stores not selling food may continue to offer plastic bags.

As California moves closer to the complete elimination of plastic bags, the settlement serves as a crucial step toward a cleaner, more sustainable environment for future generations.