In a bold move to strengthen environmental stewardship, California is on the verge of completely outlawing plastic grocery shopping bags by 2026. “Ten years ago, California passed a ban on single-use plastic grocery bags that included a definition of a reusable grocery bag that can be provided at stores for a small fee,” said CALPIRG’s state director Jenn Engstrom. This redefinition of ‘reusable’ has paved the way for plastic bags that, while technically meeting requirements, fail to be reused as intended. This bill seeks to drastically cut single-use plastic waste and holds industry manufacturers accountable for the environmental impacts of their products. In tandem with reducing single-use plastic by 25% by 2032, the law outlines a progressive goal for recyclable plastics.

Source: Los Angeles Times February 12, 2024 22:32 UTC