California has taken a significant step towards reducing plastic pollution by banning all plastic bags from grocery stores and retail outlets by the end of 2025. Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a legal settlement on October 17, 2025, with four major plastic bag manufacturers, which will lead to the removal of “reusable” plastic bags from the market. This settlement is part of a broader effort to address environmental concerns linked to plastic waste and will be enforced alongside a new state law effective January 1, 2026.
In 2016, California voters approved Proposition 67, which banned flimsy single-use plastic bags in supermarkets and retail stores. However, the law allowed thicker plastic bags, marketed as “reusable,” to remain in use. Bonta stated that these thicker bags are not recyclable in California, which constitutes a violation of state law. The recent settlement imposes $1.7 million in penalties against the manufacturers for selling these bags, further establishing their responsibility in contributing to environmental degradation.
Bonta commented, “Billions of plastic carryout bags end up in landfills, incinerators, and the environment instead of being recycled as the bags proclaim.” The Attorney General’s office initiated legal action after investigations revealed that the companies had failed to provide evidence that their bags were being recycled. In fact, a study conducted by journalists found that out of 46 bundles of plastic bags tracked from recycling bins, only four reached recycling centers. The majority ended up in landfills or were lost in transit.
The four companies involved in the settlement—Revolution Sustainable Solutions, Metro Poly, PreZero US Packaging, and Advance Polybag—have agreed to cease the sale of these bags in California. Following the settlement, environmental advocates expressed satisfaction, highlighting the necessity of such measures. Nick Lapis, director of advocacy for Californians Against Waste, remarked, “It doesn’t make sense for something you use for minutes to last for centuries.”
Despite the upcoming ban, some plastic bags will remain available in California. Retailers that do not sell food can still use certain types of plastic bags, and very thin bags used for produce and meat will continue to be legal. Critics of the ban, including some Republican lawmakers and retail associations, argue that the regulations are excessive and infringe on consumer choice. Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher remarked, “There are too many mandates on what people can and can’t do.”
Proponents of the ban argue that it contributes to significant reductions in environmental litter. In 2009, plastic grocery bags accounted for 8.7% of litter found in California during the annual Coastal Cleanup Day, while this number dropped to just 1.6% last year. Eben Schwartz, marine debris program manager at the California Coastal Commission, stated, “If anyone ever tells you plastic bag bans don’t work, this proves them wrong. It’s a huge success story.”
As California moves towards a future with reduced plastic waste, the ban on all plastic bags is a pivotal step in promoting environmental sustainability and protecting wildlife from the dangers of plastic pollution.
