California Legislature Passes Ban on Thick Single-Use Plastic Grocery Bags
Oceana applauds state legislators for reducing plastic pollution and urges Governor Newsom to sign the bill into law
Press Release Date: August 30, 2024
Location: MONTEREY, CALIF.
Contact:
Cory Gunkel, Ashley Blacow | email: cgunkel@oceana.org, ablacow@oceana.org | tel: Cory Gunkel, 1.831.643.9220
Today, California state lawmakers passed Senate Bill 1053, which bans thick single-use plastic film bags from grocery and convenience store checkouts across the state. Senator Catherine Blakespear (D-Encinitas) and Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda) championed this legislative effort. The bill now goes to Governor Newsom’s desk to sign into law before September 30. If signed, the bill would go into effect on January 1, 2026.
Ten years ago, California adopted the first statewide bag ban in the country with the passage of Senate Bill 270, but the law did not eliminate thicker plastic film bags at grocery and convenience stores. Since 2016, more plastic bags (by weight) have been thrown away compared to before the state’s bag ban was implemented. A study conducted by CalRecycle found an estimated around 460,000 lbs. of single-use plastic bags in California’s municipal waste in 2021.
“California’s move to ban thick single-use plastic bags at grocery store checkouts is a win for our coasts and communities,” said Christy Leavitt, Oceana’s plastics campaign director. “Plastic bags are one of the deadliest types of plastic to ocean wildlife. Not only is plastic tarnishing California’s beaches, but it’s in our food, air, water, and even our bodies. With an ocean-based economy valued at $45 billion annually, California is dependent on a clean coast. California has been a leader in tackling the plastic pollution crisis and strengthening the state’s plastic bag ban is another important step forward. Governor Newsom should swiftly sign this bill into law, and the state legislature should continue to act on plastic.”
A statewide poll released by Oceana revealed that 86% of California voters support local and state policies that reduce single-use plastic, and 92% of California voters are concerned about single-use plastic products like grocery bags, beverage bottles, and takeout food containers.
Background
Plastic has been found in every corner of the world and has turned up in drinking water, beer, salt, honey, and more. It’s also one of the greatest contributors to climate change. In fact, if plastic were a country, it would be the fourth-largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world. With plastic production growing at a rapid rate, increased amounts of plastic can be expected to flood our blue planet with devastating consequences.
A 2020 Oceana report revealed evidence of nearly 1,800 animals from 40 different species swallowing or becoming entangled in plastic in U.S. waters between 2009 and early 2020. Of those animals, a staggering 88% were from species listed as endangered or threatened with extinction under the Endangered Species Act.
Less than 6% of plastic in the U.S. is recycled, yet the plastics industry continues to tout recycling as a panacea while pushing new plastic products onto the market. Companies need to dramatically reduce the production and use of unnecessary single-use plastic, provide plastic-free choices, and develop systems that refill and reuse packaging and foodware. Elected officials must enact policies to ensure they do so.
In July 2024, Oceana released the results of a nationwide poll of American voters that showed broad bipartisan support for reducing single-use plastics and increasing the use of reusable packaging and foodware. Polling was conducted by the nonpartisan polling company Ipsos, which surveyed 1,053 registered U.S. voters from June 28 to 30, 2024. Included among the key findings:
- 3 in 4 American voters support national, state, and local policies that reduce single-use plastic.
- 84% support increasing the use of reusable packaging and food ware.
- 87% support policies to protect our rivers, lakes, and oceans from plastic pellet pollution.
To learn more about Oceana’s campaign to stop plastic pollution, please visit usa.oceana.org/plastics.
