California's Plastic Bag Ban Backfires: More Waste, Not Less

California's first plastic bag ban failed to reduce plastic waste, actually leading to a 47% increase. Now, lawmakers have passed a second ban, hoping to fix the loophole that allowed consumers to use more plastic.

California lawmakers have passed a second plastic bag ban after admitting that the state's first ban failed its goal of reducing plastic waste.

The initial legislation, passed in 2014, banned single-use plastic bags at grocery, drug, and convenience stores. However, consumers opted to pay a small fee for the heavier "reusable" plastic bags offered by grocery stores, which were typically thrown away.

California's Plastic Bag Ban Backfires: More Waste, Not Less

As a result, consumer advocacy group CALPIRG claimed there has been a 47% jump in plastic bag waste tonnage over the past decade.

The new legislation, offered in bills Senate Bill 1053 and Assembly Bill 2236, revises the state's single-use bag ban to stop grocery stores from selling thicker plastic grocery bags and requires grocery stores to only offer recycled paper bags at checkout.

California's Plastic Bag Ban Backfires: More Waste, Not Less

The legislation was passed in late August and now sits on Gov. Gavin Newsom's desk awaiting his signature. If signed into law, the ban would become effective in 2026.

Proponents of the new ban argue that it will eliminate plastic bags from the point of sale and help California significantly reduce the plastic waste that is contaminating its environment and waters.

California's Plastic Bag Ban Backfires: More Waste, Not Less

However, critics argue that the ban will hurt consumers, businesses, and the environment. They point to studies showing that banning plastic film grocery bags leads to an increase in the use of paper bags, which have a higher carbon footprint than plastic bags.

Additionally, they argue that the ban will create a cascade of problems for every Californian, including disruptions to the recycling industry and increased costs for businesses.

The California Grocers Association, which represents grocery stores in the state, expressed disappointment with the new legislation. The association argues that the ban will harm consumers and businesses, and that it is not the best way to reduce plastic waste.

The alliance of California recyclers and manufacturers also announced their disappointment with the bills. They claim that the ban will create a cascade of problems for every Californian, and that it is not what Californians want.

The Los Angeles Times, which initially supported the first plastic bag ban, has since admitted that it made the waste problem worse. The paper called for a "do-over" plastic ban in an editorial last month.

The editorial argued that retailers handed out the "reusable" plastic bags like candy, and that consumers could not have recycled them even if they wanted to. It stated that the can't go on, and that a second plastic bag ban is needed to fulfill the promise that lawmakers made in 2014.

It remains to be seen whether Gov. Newsom will sign the new plastic bag ban into law. If he does, it will become effective in 2026.