Pre-checkout plastic bags to be banned from California grocery stores by Jan. 1, 2025

First, it was the single-use plastic grocery carry-out bag that was banned in California. And now, after recent action in Sacramento, grocery shoppers will soon not be seeing the roll of plastic produce bags hanging above the Brussels sprouts, green onions, and bell peppers. Nor will plastic bags be provided for placing packages of meat.

It won't be a rapid change, with a removal date of January 1, 2025. giving the industry time to create an allowable bag. Grocers can replace the single-use thin bag with paper, or bags made from compostable plastic. Many shoppers are already using mesh bags they bring from home to place their fruits and vegetables.

California is the first state to phase out the thin, translucent pre-checkout bags and other single-use plastics from their grocery stores.

“This kind of plastic film is not recyclable. It’s a contaminant in almost any bin you put it into,” said Nick Lapis, director of advocacy for Californians Against Waste, an environmental group that supported the bill.
“It flies around landfills and flies out of trucks. It gets stuck on gears at recycling facilities. And it contaminates compost. It’s a problematic product we want to get rid of.”

The bill, SB 1046, was signed by Gov. Newsome after being brought to the Senate floor by Sen. Susan Talamantes Eggman, D-Stockton. It passed the Legislature with most Democrats in favor of it, and most Republicans against it.

The main opponent was the California Grocers Association.

Some stores, like Trader Joe's, were already using compostable produce bags.