Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. signed the nation’s first statewide ban on single-use plastic bags – SB 270 – today. This makes California the first state in the United States to have a bag ban for the entire state.
The legislation was authored by Senator Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima). Under SB 270, plastic bags will be phased out of checkout counters at large grocery stores and supermarkets such as Walmart and Target starting next summer, and convenience stores and pharmacies in 2016. The law does not apply to bags used for fruits, vegetables or meats, or to shopping bags used at other retailers. It allows grocers to charge a fee of at least 10 cents for using paper bags.
For nearly 10 million Californians, life without grocery bags is not new. Today over 120 local governments in California have passed ordinances banning single-use bags. These local ordinances will be grandfathered in and will supersede the state wide ban. All cities and counties that did not have bans approved prior to today, will now follow the state wide ban.
Make sure to keep checking our website for updates on single use bag legislation that is pending or being implemented. Our retail packaging specialists stay on top of the ever changing market conditions. Let us help you navigate bag legislation in the municipalities you sell into and select the best packaging for your stores. We hope that you will contact us by phone at 888-429-5673 or via email at baglaws@swalter.com
