California Considers Statewide Ban on Single-Use Bags

California is considering a statewide ban on single-use carryout plastic bags.

Assembly Bill 298 would prohibit stores from distributing single-use carryout bags, while allowing consumer purchases of certain types of bags, according to a news release from Californians Against Waste, a co-sponsor of the legislation.

The bill was passed by the Senate Environmental Quality Committee, and it’s now on second-reading status before the state senate.

Introduced by Assembly Member Julia Brownley, the bill also would require stores to provide plastic bag recycling collection bins and create a reusable bag certification program.

Bags that could be available for sale would include resusable bags, paper bags and compostable bags, in some jurisdictions.