California’s Bag Law Goes into Effect: Not a Ban, It’s a Benefit!

POSTED ON January 14th, 2026 BY Nancy Roberts

Environmental outreach professionals here in California are probably well aware of SB 1053. As of January 1, grocery stores and similar businesses may no longer offer plastic bags of any kind at check-out, and paper bags carry a minimum 10 cent fee.

“What!” we hear residents saying to themselves and others, “My rights are being invaded! Government overreach!” How dare we take away their microplastic polluting, enviro littering, fossil-fuel-based plastic convenience?

All kidding aside, as we know, Californians want solutions and they don’t like waste; for this law, at least, the solution – use reusables –  is pretty simple and straightforward. Positioning this law positively can go a long way to helping everyone agree that it’s a good thing. When messaging about the change, outreach should steer clear of words like “ban”, “illegal”, “taken away”, etc. Try for a reassuring tone and looking on the bright side. Here’s what we included in a recent post on the Livermore Recycles website:

We don’t need plastic grocery bags and we don’t want to pay for paper so…we use reusables! By bringing your reusable bags to the store every time, you’ll cut down on plastic waste and save money in the bargain. 

Let residents tell you (on social media) how they remember their reusable bags; norming this small change will help the more hesitant or resistant folks catch up and enjoy the benefits. By framing the law as a positive, we’ll help everyone (eventually!) comply and see the benefits.