California Senate Bill 270, ratified by Proposition 67, bans single-use carryout plastic bags at grocery stores and large retailers statewide, including Riverside County, and requires a minimum charge for paper or reusable bags.
Under Public Resources Code section 42281 et seq., grocery stores, drugstores, convenience stores, and food marts cannot provide single-use plastic carryout bags. Compliant alternatives include certified compostable bags, recycled paper bags, or reusable bags meeting durability and recycled content standards. Stores must charge at least 10 cents per bag, retained by the retailer. Riverside County enforces the law in unincorporated areas through Code Enforcement and Environmental Health. SB 1053, passed in 2024, will further restrict reusable plastic bags starting January 2026, requiring true paper or fabric reusables.
Free single-use plastic bags: civil penalties up to 5,000 dollars per day per Public Resources Code 42283.
See how Palm Springs's plastic bag rules rules stack up against other locations.
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