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Another ban on plastic grocery bags looks to become law in California

Gov. Newsom needs to sign bills passed by both chambers

Bill Wilson, Senior editor at Supermarket News

September 3, 2024

1 Min Read
The companion bills prohibit grocers from offering any type of bags that are not paper. Getty Images

A ban on plastic grocery bags in California is on its way to the governor’s desk. 

Bills out of both chambers of state legislature — AB-2236 and SB-1053 — were passed and now await Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature of approval. 

The companion bills prohibit grocers from offering any type of bags that are not paper. 

Lawmakers want shoppers to bring their own bags to the grocery store and also want grocers to encourage such a practice. 

California first banned plastic grocery bags in 2014, but retailers discovered it was still permissible to offer thicker plastic bags that were deemed reusable. 

Proposition 67 was approved by voters in 2016 and upheld the law. 

 A study, however, indicated consumers were still throwing away the thicker bags. 

About the Author

Bill Wilson

Senior editor at Supermarket News

Bill Wilson is the senior editor at Supermarket News, covering all things grocery and retail. He has been a journalist in the B2B industry for 25 years. He has received two Robert F. Boger awards for his work as a journalist in the infrastructure industry and has over 25 editorial awards total in his career. He graduated cum laude from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale with a major in broadcast communications.

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