California shoppers prepare for strict plastic bag ban at checkout starting Jan. 1

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Starting Jan. 1, plastic shopping bags will no longer be available at grocery stores under a new state law.

“I’m not a fan,” said Nicholas Tran, co-owner of Vien Dong 4 Supermarket in San Diego’s Colina Del Sol neighborhood.

The upcoming change has left him with a few unanswered questions.

“What do you do with the old supply? Am I supposed to dump it? And where do I dump it? Landfill. So now it’s still not going to decompose, is it?”

Senate Bill 1053 prevents grocery stores, retail stores with a pharmacy, convenience stores, food marts, and liquor stores from distributing single-use plastic carry-out bags, which are considered a major source of waste.

“We need to be able to get our groceries inside, but it can be with a material that doesn’t last for thousands of years and never breaks down in the environment,” said State Sen. Catherine Blakespear, who represents District 38.

Blakespear wrote the bill, which expands on a ban approved by voters more than ten years ago.

“Unfortunately what happened is this loophole that allowed those thicker plastic bags to count as recyclable and reusable,” said Blakespear.

At the start of the new year, stores will only be allowed to sell paper bags at checkout for ten cents each.

Meanwhile, Tran said paper bags cost him 25% more than plastic, which the working class and immigrant communities reuse. “They do end up being trash bags so there is dual use to begin with if not, we’re going to have to buy more trash bags.”

Supporters of the new law hope it creates more sustainable habits. “The best thing of course is that someone brings their reusable bag canvas that could be used hundreds of times,” said Blakespear.

It’s what many are already doing, including shopper Atlantis Showalter. She said she never leaves home without her reusable bag to avoid a charge and inconvenient situations.

“The bags are usually really flimsy, like if I get them from the store and they fall apart,” she said.

Cities, counties, and the state attorney general are in charge of enforcing the new law and anyone can report violations. You can find more information here.

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