Overview
- Effective Jan. 1, 2026, grocery, convenience, pharmacy and liquor stores may no longer provide plastic bags at checkout and can offer only recycled paper bags or accept customer-brought reusables.
- Retailers may still sell other types of bags, but they cannot be provided at the point of sale.
- Paper bags at checkout carry a 10-cent fee, and shoppers using food assistance programs are exempt from the charge.
- Compostable plastic produce bags remain available in store aisles for fruits and vegetables.
- CalRecycle reports grocery and merchandise bag disposal rose 47% from 2014 to 2022, and by 2028 paper checkout bags must contain at least 50% recycled material.