California Lawmakers Voted to Ban All Plastic Supermarket Bags

California lawmakers have passed legislation that prohibits all plastic supermarket bags.

Senate Bill 1053 and Assembly Bill 2236, which restrict grocery retailers from providing any bags other than paper at checkout, strengthen the original intentions of California’s 2014 plastic bag ban law, according to the California Public Interest Research Group, or CALPIRG.

SB 1053 passed the State Assembly on Thursday with a 49-5 vote, while AB 2236 cleared the State Senate on Wednesday with a 31-8 vote. Before they reach Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk, both legislation must receive one last vote in each chamber.

California was the first state in the US to enact a plastic shopping bag ban in 2014, and voters maintained the measure in 2016.

However, the original law, SB 270, enabled grocery businesses to continue offering plastic bags as long as they were reusable and recyclable. This loophole increased the usage of thicker plastic bags, which manufacturers claim to fit the requirements but are rarely reused.

“We have known for a long time that plastic bags pollute the environment. “That is why Californians voted to ban plastic grocery bags in 2016,” stated CALPIRG State Director Jenn Engstrom. “The problem is that grocery retailers are still allowed to provide thicker plastic bags, and plastic bag trash has reached an all-time high. With today’s vote in the Assembly, California is on track to permanently eliminate plastic bags from grocery checkout lanes.”

Customers will continue to be urged to bring their bags or pay a small cost for paper bags at the checkout.

It’s unclear whether Newsom, who has typically supported efforts to limit plastic pollution, will sign the measures.

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