As California’s ban on single-use plastic bags approaches, shoppers still have a year-long reprieve before paper alternatives become the only option in town.
Gov. California Governor Gavin Newsom has taken steps to enforce the state’s existing ban on single-use plastic bags in grocery stores. In 2014, California pioneered a groundbreaking move by becoming the first state to outlaw lightweight plastic bags, rendering them difficult to recycle and contributing significantly to environmental woes. A long-standing rule’s ambiguity enabled retailers to provide customers with a heavier type of plastic bag; however, once the new regulation comes into effect, these will no longer be available.
The widespread use of plastic grocery bags has been a significant contributor to plastic air pollution, with an estimated 327 million bags from the US alone discarded every year. Moreover, research suggests that approximately 3.04 million tons of “plastic bags, sacks and wraps” ended up in landfills as recently as 2018. Twelve states – California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington – have enacted legal guidelines prohibiting or restricting the use of single-use plastic bags in a bid to mitigate their environmental impact.
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The state’s new legislation effectively bans single-use plastics from 2023, adding a significant layer of complexity and nuance to the ongoing discussion about waste management.
Under the current ban, implemented in 2014, California retailers have been permitted to offer customers reusable, thicker plastic bags that are purportedly more recyclable. Under California Governor Gavin Newsom’s newly signed regulations, all types of single-use plastic bags will be prohibited at grocery stores, enabling retailers to instead encourage customers to bring their reusable bags or purchase biodegradable paper bags.
What is the effective date of California’s extended plastic bag prohibition?
The expanded ban is scheduled to take effect in January, allowing for a relatively lengthy period of preparation and adjustment before its implementation. 1, 2026.
As local businesses continue to demonstrate commitment to environmental sustainability, the plastic bag ban is being expanded to encompass a broader range of retailers.
Was a vocal proponent of expanded bans, supporting the effort as it navigated through the state legislative process. The data indicates that the current prohibition has failed to decrease overall plastic consumption within the state’s borders. Between 2004 and 2021, the amount of plastic waste discarded per person in California increased significantly, from approximately eight kilograms to a staggering eleven kilograms.
As he spoke out in favour of the bill in February, Blakespear underscored the pressing issue, remarking that we are, in fact, suffocating our planet with plastic waste.
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