Required in California — additional to federal requirements
CA Plastic Bag Ban Compliance
Compliance program for California's plastic bag ban covering charge requirements, bag type standards, recordkeeping, and customer communication for retail stores.
What this document covers
California's SB-270 prohibits retail stores from providing single-use plastic carryout bags at the point of sale. Stores must charge a minimum of $0.10 for any bag provided (recycled paper or reusable). The law applies to grocery stores, pharmacies, convenience stores, liquor stores, and most other retail establishments. Retailers must maintain records of bag sales revenue and use those funds to cover the costs of providing compliant bags, environmental education, and bag recycling programs. Recent amendments under SB-1046 expanded the ban to cover thicker reusable plastic bags that were being treated as single-use. Compliance requires staff training, signage, POS system configuration, and vendor coordination for bag sourcing.
Key sections included
- Prohibited bag types and compliant alternatives
- Minimum bag charge ($0.10) and POS configuration
- Bag revenue tracking and use requirements
- Staff training on bag policy and customer communication
- Signage requirements at checkout
- Bag vendor compliance verification
- Exemptions (produce bags, meat/bakery bags, garment bags)
- Recordkeeping and audit trail
Frequently asked questions
Can I give free paper bags?
No. SB-270 requires a minimum $0.10 charge for any carryout bag provided at the point of sale, including recycled paper bags. The charge must appear as a separate line item on the receipt.
What about bags for produce or meat?
Small bags used to carry produce, bulk food, meat, or unwrapped bakery items from the department to the register are exempt. These are not 'carryout bags' and can be provided without charge.
Can customers bring their own bags?
Yes, and you should encourage it. There is no requirement to charge customers who bring their own reusable bags. Many retailers offer small discounts for customers who bring their own bags.
Document details
- State
- California
- Legal basis
- California SB-270 (Public Resources Code §42280-§42288); SB-1046 amendments
- Enforced by
- CalRecycle (California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery); local environmental enforcement
- Penalty for absence
- First violation: written warning. Second violation within 12 months: $1,000 fine. Third and subsequent violations: $2,000 per violation per day. Local jurisdictions may impose additional penalties. CalRecycle enforcement actions.
- Category
- Operations
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CA Plastic Bag Ban Compliance
Legal Reference
California SB-270 (Public Resources Code §42280-§42288); SB-1046 amendments. Enforced by CalRecycle (California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery); local environmental enforcement.
1. Prohibited bag types and compliant alternatives
2. Minimum bag charge ($0.10) and POS configuration
3. Bag revenue tracking and use requirements
4. Staff training on bag policy and customer communication
+ 4 more sections...
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