California is tightening the rules on what you can take home from the checkout lane, and the change is bigger than many shoppers realize. Starting in 2026, plastic carryout bags will no longer be allowed at checkout in covered stores, including the thicker “reusable” plastic bags that became common after earlier restrictions.
The shift is driven by SB 1053 (2024), a law framed by lawmakers as a fix to a loophole in the original 2014 bag policy. The goal is straightforward: cut the volume of plastic bags entering the waste stream and reduce the litter and pollution they can cause across cities, waterways, and coastlines.
What changes on January 1, 2026: recycled paper only at checkout
Beginning January 1, 2026, covered stores in California “will only be allowed to distribute recycled paper bags to customers at the point of sale,” according to CalRecycle. That means no plastic checkout carryout bags, explicitly including thicker plastic bags that were marketed and sold as “reusable.”
In practice, the familiar checkout question changes. Instead of “paper or plastic,” shoppers should expect something closer to what Sen. Catherine Blakespear described when SB 1053 was signed: consumers will be asked if they want a paper bag, full stop.
This is not a general ban on all plastic packaging or all bags used anywhere in a store. It targets checkout carryout bags, which are among the most visible and frequently used single-use items in retail.
SB 1053 closes the “reusable plastic” loophole
Supporters of SB 1053 argue the earlier framework didn’t deliver the intended results because thicker plastic bags still flooded the market. A Senate District 38 press release said the 2024 law “closes a loophole” from the 2014 policy, with the tighter rules taking effect January 1, 2026.
Data cited in reporting underscores why lawmakers revisited the issue. The Los Angeles Times reported plastic bag waste discarded in California rose from 157,385 tons in 2014 to 231,072 tons in 2021, about a 47% increase, despite the state’s earlier efforts.
That rise also shows up on a per-capita basis: 4.08 tons per 1,000 people in 2014 versus 5.89 tons per 1,000 people in 2021, according to the same Los Angeles Times coverage. The political argument behind SB 1053 is that if “reusable” plastic still ends up discarded at high rates, the policy needs to change.
Where the rules apply: checkout, self-checkout, pickup, curbside, and delivery
One of the most consequential details is that the restriction isn’t limited to a staffed register. CalRecycle’s bag requirements explain that effective January 1, 2026, covered stores may only provide recycled paper carryout bags at multiple fulfillment points.
Those points include checkout counters, self-checkout kiosks, in-store pickup, curbside pickup, and even home delivery. The intent is to prevent plastic bags from persisting simply because the transaction happens in a different channel.
As retail continues to blend in-person shopping with online ordering and pickup, this “all points of sale/fulfillment” approach matters. Whether you scan your own items, pick up groceries at the trunk, or receive an order at your door, the checkout carryout bag option is designed to be the same statewide.
Cost and consumer impacts: the 10-cent minimum (and key exceptions)
California’s statewide rules include a minimum bag charge: at least $0.10 per recycled paper carryout bag, as noted by CalRecycle. In other words, paper bags remain available at checkout, but they are not meant to be “free by default.”
The California Department of Justice’s consumer guidance summarizes the general framework: stores must typically provide recycled paper bags (or certified reusable bags under prior rules) and charge at least 10 cents. Importantly, the same guidance notes that customers using EBT or WIC may not be charged for a bag.
For shoppers, the practical effect is a stronger incentive to bring durable bags from home, keep a stash in the car, or consolidate purchases. For many households, the biggest “cost” won’t be the dime, it will be remembering a routine that avoids needing a bag at all.
Paper bag standards: labeling now, higher recycled content in 2028
The new rules don’t treat paper bags as a blank check. CalRecycle specifies labeling requirements for recycled paper carryout bags, including printed information such as the manufacturer’s name, the country of manufacture, and the percentage of postconsumer content.
Those details are meant to make paper carryout bags more transparent and enforceable, so regulators (and competitors) can verify that bags being offered actually meet California’s standards rather than simply being “paper-like” in marketing terms.
The standards tighten further in 2028. CalRecycle states that effective January 1, 2028, recycled paper carryout bags must contain at least 50% postconsumer recycled materials, raising the bar for what qualifies as compliant paper at checkout.
What is (and isn’t) covered: carryout bags vs. non-carryout uses
The law is aimed at checkout carryout bags, not every bag used in a retail environment. CalRecycle outlines exclusions from the “carryout bag” definition, which helps clarify where plastic or other bag types may still appear.
Examples of excluded “non-carryout” uses include prescription pharmacy bags, certain bags without handles used to protect items from contamination or damage, and pre-checkout bags such as those used for bulk foods. Garment bags are also among the exclusions listed by CalRecycle.
This distinction matters because it keeps common food-safety and product-protection practices intact while still targeting the highest-volume category: the bag handed out at the end of a transaction for customers to carry purchases away.
Who must comply, who enforces, and what penalties look like
CalRecycle describes the statewide program scope as covering grocery stores, convenience stores/food marts, liquor stores, and retail stores with pharmacies. These are the types of outlets most likely to distribute large quantities of checkout carryout bags daily.
Enforcement is not handled by CalRecycle itself. The agency states it does not have enforcement authority; instead, the law is enforced by local jurisdictions (cities and counties) and the California Attorney General’s Office.
Penalties can escalate quickly. CalRecycle lists fines of up to $1,000 per day for a first violation, $2,000 per day for a second, and up to $5,000 per day for third and subsequent violations, creating strong pressure for retailers to align their supply chains and training before the 2026 deadline.
Local momentum and the broader anti-plastic push
Although the rules are statewide, local governments often play an outsized role because they’re a key enforcement layer. Coverage of Napa County’s unincorporated areas, for example, describes how local action aligns with the statewide shift and includes escalating daily fines up to $5,000.
Advocates also frame the policy as part of California’s wider environmental leadership. In Los Angeles Times coverage of SB 1053, Oceana’s Christy Leavitt said the move “solidifies California as a leader in tackling the global plastic pollution crisis.”
From the legislative side, the tone is that consumers are ready. In a December 30, 2025 press release about the law taking effect, Sen. Catherine Blakespear said, “Californians have been ready and able to shop without plastic bags for a long time…”, a statement meant to position the 2026 change as an overdue normalization rather than a radical shift.
By 2026, California’s checkout lanes will look simpler: recycled paper carryout bags (with a minimum 10-cent charge) or whatever durable bags shoppers bring themselves. The notable difference is what won’t be there anymore, plastic, including the thicker “reusable” versions that became a workaround in the last decade.
For retailers, the countdown is about compliance across every fulfillment path, checkout, self-checkout, pickup, curbside, and delivery, plus meeting labeling requirements now and higher recycled-content thresholds in 2028. For shoppers, the change is a nudge toward habits many already practice: planning a, reusing durable totes, and leaving plastic checkout bags in the past.
