What You Should Know About California’s Plastic Bag Ban

If you’ve visited the grocery store lately and noticed that the familiar plastic bags at checkout are gone, you’re not imagining things. As of January 1, 2026, California’s plastic bag ban is officially in effect per Senate Bill 1053. Here’s a quick summary of what has changed, why it matters, and what it means for your next shopping trip.

A Little Background

The state passed SB 270 in 2014, which prohibits thin, single-use plastic bags at the checkout counter (SB 270, California Legislative Information). That law was upheld by voters in 2016 with Proposition 67. Thousand Oaks began its own parallel journey in 2019, when the City Council directed staff to explore phasing out additional harmful single-use polystyrene.

But there was a catch. SB 270 still allowed stores to hand out thicker plastic bags, marketed as “reusable,” if they met certain durability standards. In theory, shoppers would reuse. Most ended up in the trash after just one use. According to a California Public Interest Research Group, report using CalRecycle data, the total tonnage of discarded plastic bags actually grew by 47% between 2014 and 2022 — rising from 157,385 tons to 231,072 tons — a clear sign the original ban wasn’t working as intended (California’s war on plastic bag use seems to have backfired, LA Times)

Enter California SB 1053

That loophole has been closed withSB 1053. Signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on September 22, 2024 and authored by Sen. Catherine Blakespear, SB 1053 bans all plastic carryout bags at checkout, thin or thick, “reusable” label or not (SB 1053, California Legislative Information).

The law applies to grocery stores, retail stores with a pharmacy, convenience stores, food marts, and liquor stores throughout California (CalRecycle Bag Requirements).Those retailers may only offer recycled paper bags at the register and you’ll pay a minimum of 10 cents per bag. So here is a practical rundown of what you can expect at checkout:

•No more plastic bags at checkout (CalRecycle Bag Requirements).

•Paper bags will be available for 10¢ each (SB 1053 Program News, CalRecycle).

•Some bags are still allowed. Bags provided by pharmacies for prescription medications and pre-checkout bags used to contain unwrapped food items like bulk foods or produce are exempt — so don’t worry about your avocados!

Why This Matters

Plastic bags are a significant source of pollution in our communities and along our coastlines. From checkout to destination, the average use time of a plastic bag is just 12 minutes — yet it can persist in the environment for up to 1,000 years, breaking down into microplastics that contaminate soil and water. Polystyrene foam poses a similar threat and doesn’t biodegrade. SB 1053 and Ordinance 1680-NS is a meaningful step toward reducing this impact.

Thousand Oaks Goes Even Further

The City has prohibited the sale and distribution of polystyrene (also known as “styrofoam”) under Ordinance 1680-NS that went into effect January 1, 2022. That means foam takeout containers, cups, plates, rigid plastic cutlery, and coffee lids are prohibited at a local business. Restaurants must provide single-use utensils and condiments at request only. Both the state plastic bag ban and the City’s polystyrene ordinance are in full effect, so there has never been a better time for TO residents to rethink single-use habits altogether. Here are some simple tips for making the transition easy:

•Keep a few reusable bags in your car so you always have them on hand and skip the 10¢ fee.

•Hang a tote bag near your front door as a reminder before you head out.

•Most grocery stores sell reusable bags at checkout if you ever get caught without one.

•Skip the foam too by bringing your own reusable coffee cup and utensils.

Californians helped lead the nation on environmental protections with the original plastic bag ban in 2014, and SB 1053 builds on that legacy.

Learn More: For more information about the new bag requirements, visit CalRecycle’s Bag Requirements page or the archived SB 270 page for the original ban. Thousand Oaks residents can also visit toaks.gov/citysolidwaste for information on the City’s Polystyrene ban.

Some material in this blog was edited with AI assistance.