Environment & Energy
Related: About this forumCalifornia governor signs law banning all plastic shopping bags at grocery stores
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) Paper or plastic will no longer be a choice at grocery store checkout lines in California under a new law signed Sunday by Gov. Gavin Newsom that bans all plastic shopping bags.
California had already banned thin plastic shopping bags at supermarkets and other stores, but shoppers could purchase bags made with a thicker plastic that purportedly made them reusable and recyclable.
The new measure, approved by state legislators last month, bans all plastic shopping bags starting in 2026. Consumers who don't bring their own bags will now simply be asked if they want a paper bag.
State Sen. Catherine Blakespear, one of the bill's supporters, said people were not reusing or recycling any plastic bags. She pointed to a state study that found that the amount of plastic shopping bags trashed per person grew from 8 pounds (3.6 kilograms) per year in 2004 to 11 pounds (5 kilograms) per year in 2021.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/california-governor-signs-law-banning-201248980.html
HarryM
(161 posts)Someone passed this.
Beringia
(4,607 posts)I bought these for $50 and love them. I had so many that I gave half away to Goodwill. It amounts to paying $1 per bag
https://a.co/d/fjrUOcq
OKIsItJustMe
(20,942 posts)Then people didnt want to touch reusable bags
Who knows what they might be carrying besides groceries!
Things are returning to sanity somewhat.
Rhiannon12866
(223,227 posts)Vegetables come in plastic bags or wrappers, baked goods come in plastic boxes, fruit also comes in plastic bags, meats are wrapped in plastic, deli goods come in plastic containers and even paper products are wrapped in plastic!
OKIsItJustMe
(20,942 posts)I am skeptical regarding what happens to it at that point.
Getting rid of the single-use shopping bags was a good first step. I question whether well ever be able to get rid of it all. The only solution I think will work is truly biodegradable plastics
Rhiannon12866
(223,227 posts)And of course it's impossible to take home a cake, lettuce or grapes or potato salad without some kind of container.
OKIsItJustMe
(20,942 posts)If I recall correctly, stores are allowed to use plastic, if they provide a collection bin for it. (Since practically every store uses it
)
(Ask at the service desk. It may not be in plain sight.)
BTW: I know the North Country rather well. I make a respectable vegan Michigan sauce."