California Pushes for Complete Ban on Plastic Bags at Grocery Checkouts
Advocates are rallying behind new California legislation that seeks to ban plastic bags from grocery store checkouts entirely. On Tuesday morning, supporters, including state lawmakers and representatives from the California Grocers Association, the Ocean Conservancy, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium, gathered at the Capitol for a news conference.
The proposed laws, Senate Bill 1053 and Assembly Bill 2236, have already passed their respective houses and are now awaiting final votes this week in the opposite chambers. If enacted, these bills would prohibit grocery stores from providing plastic bags to customers, with limited exceptions for pharmacies, stores using bags without handles for unwrapped food items, and garment bags. Only recycled or washable bags made of cloth or woven textiles would be permitted at checkout.
"We need to transform our retail spaces and grocery stores to protect future generations from the pollution caused by plastic bags," said Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan during the event.
California has had a law since 2014 requiring customers to pay 10 cents per plastic bag, but the new legislation would eliminate this option altogether.
However, not everyone is in favor of the bills. Julian Canete, president of the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, expressed concerns, stating that the legislation could have unintended consequences, particularly for low-income and marginalized communities who may struggle with the additional costs.
Lawmakers are expected to vote on the bills by the end of the week.
