California Plastic Bag Ban Tightened: Senate Bill 1053 Closes Reusable Plastic Bag Loophole
California will phase out virtually all plastic grocery bags under Senate Bill 1053, banning film plastic carryout bags at checkout by Jan. 1, 2026 and requiring pre-checkout bags to be paper or certified compostable by Jan. 1, 2025.
- SB 1053 closes a loophole that allowed thicker “reusable” film bags, pushing stores to recycled paper or non-plastic reusables at checkout.
- Deadlines: pre-checkout bags must be paper/compostable by Jan. 1, 2025; checkout film bags banned Jan. 1, 2026.
- Enforcement: an Oct. 17, 2025 settlement with bag makers halted falsely marketed recyclable bags and included about $1.7 million in penalties.
Main overview
What changed: Senate Bill 1053 amends California’s 2014 statewide framework to remove the allowance for thicker film “reusable” bags and to require stores covered by the 2014 law to distribute only recycled-content paper or qualifying non-plastic reusable bags at checkout starting Jan. 1, 2026. Pre-checkout bags for produce, meat and bakery must be recycled-paper or certified-compostable by Jan. 1, 2025.
What the new rules do
California’s updated rules build on the 2014 law that first limited single-use plastic bags. The change removes the escape route that let many stores keep handing out thicker film bags called “reusable”, often marketed as recyclable but rarely recovered in practice.
- All flimsy single-use plastic carryout bags had already been banned statewide under the earlier framework.
- Starting Jan. 1, 2026, covered stores may only hand out recycled-content paper bags or qualifying non-plastic reusable bags at checkout; film plastic carryout bags will no longer be distributed.
- Beginning Jan. 1, 2025, pre-checkout bags (produce, meat, bakery) must be recycled paper or certified compostable, not conventional thin plastic.
How this ties back to SB 270 (2014) and the reusable-bag loophole
SB 270, passed in 2014, established California’s first statewide ban on single-use plastic carryout bags and required a minimum 10-cent charge for compliant bags at checkout. Voters upheld the law in Proposition 67 in 2016. However, SB 270 allowed thicker film plastic “reusable” bags if they met durability and recyclability standards — and retailers and manufacturers shifted to those thicker film bags, which left plastic volume high and recovery rates low.
Investigations later found many thicker bags were not actually recycled in California and did not meet recyclability claims, prompting lawmakers to act.
Senate Bill 1053: closing the loophole
SB 1053 is a “fix-it” measure that amends the state bag framework to ban all film plastic bags at checkout for stores covered by SB 270 and to require only recycled-content paper bags or qualifying non-plastic reusable bags. Policy advocates say the change targets misleading marketing that labeled many film plastic bags as recyclable when they were not, and aims to cut plastic pollution in waterways and neighborhoods.
Enforcement actions and the Attorney General settlement
On Oct. 17, 2025, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a settlement with four major plastic bag manufacturers after a multi-year probe. The companies agreed to stop selling single-use plastic bags in California that had been falsely marketed as recyclable and to pay roughly $1.7 million in penalties and fees. State officials and advocates called the settlement a major legal win that accelerates the phase-out prior to SB 1053’s full effect.
What bags will still be allowed (and what won’t)
At checkout for large grocery stores, pharmacies and similar retailers covered by SB 270:
- Allowed: recycled-content paper bags that meet labeling and content rules, and non-plastic durable reusable bags (cloth, woven materials) that meet state durability standards.
- Not allowed: any film plastic carryout bags, including thicker bags once marketed as reusable or recyclable.
For pre-checkout uses like produce, meat and bakery, conventional thin plastic bags must be replaced with recycled paper or certified compostable alternatives by Jan. 1, 2025. Very thin certified compostable bags for certain food uses remain an exception, and some non-food retailers not covered by SB 270 may still follow different rules unless local ordinances are stricter.
Rationale: why California is targeting reusable plastic bags too
Officials cite low recovery rates for plastic film drop-off programs and high contamination; many bags labeled recyclable still end up in landfills or as litter. Thicker plastic bags often behave like single-use items because shoppers do not reuse them enough times to offset production impacts. By removing film-plastic options at checkout and tightening pre-checkout rules, California hopes to shift shoppers to durable non-plastic reusables and recycled paper that integrate better with existing systems.
Practical implications for retailers and shoppers
Retailers: Covered stores must stop ordering and distributing film-plastic carryout bags by the 2026 deadline, shift purchasing to recycled-content paper and durable non-plastic reusables, and continue to collect the minimum 10-cent charge for compliant checkout bags. Audit inventories, update supplier contracts, and plan staff training and customer communications now.
Shoppers: The common “paper or plastic?” choice will vanish in affected stores after 2026; expect to bring durable reusable bags or pay for paper/qualifying reusables. Produce and similar items will move away from thin plastic bags beginning Jan. 1, 2025.
Implications for Los Angeles, California
Economic: Los Angeles grocery chains and independent markets will need to update purchasing and supply contracts for the 2025–2026 phaseouts, which may raise short-term costs as paper and compostable options often cost more than plastic film. Local suppliers and packaging vendors may see increased demand.
Political & social: City and county leaders may face local questions about enforcement, outreach and small-business support. Low-income shoppers could feel impacts from the 10-cent minimum bag charge; social service groups and food banks may need guidance to avoid new costs. Public education and bag distribution programs could expand.
Practical tips: Keep durable reusable bags handy, learn which local stores are covered by the law, and expect paper or certified compostable options in produce aisles after Jan. 1, 2025.
Sources and further reading
- CalRecycle: Carryout Bags and Bag Requirements
- StopWaste: Bag Laws Update (March 2025 briefing)
- SFGATE: California supermarkets to change checkout choices in 2026
- Plastic Pollution Coalition: California upholds plastic bag ban and settlement (Oct. 2025)
- Creative Retail Packaging: California banning plastic bags
If you want a deeper look at the exact SB 1053 statutory language, details on which stores are covered under SB 270, or local Los Angeles programs to help residents adapt, I can provide that next.
