BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) \u2014 That plastic bag at checkout will soon be a thing of the past. Beginning in 2026, California retailers will fully phase out plastic bags in favor of paper and reusable options, marking another major step in the state\u2019s effort to reduce plastic pollution.<\/p>\n
For many shoppers, convenience has long ruled the checkout line.
Darryl Ford is one of them.
His car is filled with plastic bags he\u2019s collected over the years, a habit built on practicality.<\/p>\n
\u201cI went through the paper years ago,\u201d Ford said. \u201cI remember grocery stores that\u2019s all they had were paper bags.\u201d<\/p>\n
But as Ford walks grocery store aisles today, he\u2019s already preparing for what\u2019s ahead. Starting in 2026, grocery stores, convenience stores, pharmacies, and liquor stores across California will no longer provide single-use plastic bags. Instead, shoppers will need to use approved paper bags or bring reusable ones.<\/p>\n
Not everyone supports the change. Shopper Serena Gardener says paper bags simply don\u2019t measure up.<\/p>\n
\u201cPaper bags break up. It\u2019s not sturdy,\u201d Gardener said. \u201cAt least the plastic bags have handles. We can reuse them for trash bags, carry our things and they charge for the bags. I have a problem with them charging.\u201d<\/p>\n
The shift has been years in the making. California voters approved the plastic bag ban in 2016 under Proposition 67, which upheld Senate Bill 270 and restricted single-use plastic carryout bags. However, a loophole allowed thicker plastic bags to remain in circulation.<\/p>\n
Retailers say they\u2019re ready for the final transition. Nick Dokoozlian, government affairs manager for Save Mart Companies, says stores have been preparing for months.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have been preparing for this for a little bit now,\u201d Dokoozlian said. \u201cMost of our stores will be running out of bags within the next couple of weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n
Experts say the updated rules close that earlier loophole. Dr. Aaron Hedge, an economics and agriculture professor, explains that thicker plastic bags were never a true solution.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re not biodegradable,\u201d Hedge said. \u201cIt takes something like 10 to 15 years, even 20 years, to degrade. And even then, the plastic leaks into the earth and our water systems.\u201d<\/p>\n
The goal of the change is to reduce plastic pollution. With nearly 40 million residents, California generates about 3 million tons of waste. Hedge warns that plastic pollution doesn\u2019t just harm the environment it affects people directly.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven with limited or reduced plastics usage, humans have all these plastics in our body microplastics which are not good,\u201d Hedge said. \u201cThere\u2019s also the damage to the environment.\u201d<\/p>\n
As the deadline approaches, shoppers are being encouraged to plan ahead. Reusable bags often forgotten in car trunks may soon become a necessity. And for those who forget, many stores will charge for paper bags at checkout.<\/p>\n
For California consumers, the message is clear: the checkout experience is changing, and bringing your own bag could soon be the easiest and cheapest option.<\/p>\n
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