Photo by flxlr, via Fickr. License: CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

The phrase “the road to hell is paved with good intentions” always rubbed me the wrong way. So judgy. And yet, that’s what comes to mind when I consider the 2014 California ban on single-use plastic bags. It was a fantastic idea, and I have no doubt that the people who set it into motion had the very best of intentions.

Unfortunately, the ban led to a loophole in which stores were able to sell thicker plastic bags. According to CalRecyle, the average Californian disposed of about 11 lbs. of grocery bags per year in 2021—which is up from about 8 lbs. in 2004. Making bigger, thicker (albeit reusable) plastic grocery bags just created a bigger problem.

Yikes!

So, why does it matter? Well, despite these thicker plastic bags being reusable, they continue to end up in landfills, where they can take centuries to break down. In the meantime, the chemicals in these bags contribute to microplastics in our environment and bodies. Plastic can disrupt the human endocrine system, harm wildlife, and increase greenhouse gas emissions, just to name a few concerns.

So, what can we do about it?  

• Use those reusable plastic bags. If you’ve already purchased them and they remain in your possession, do your best to bring them in from the car. If you forgot them in the car, have your friend, kid, or significant other grab them before you pay. And if you’re shopping alone, you can even pack the groceries back into your cart and transfer them into the bags when you get to the car. Or your home, if that’s where you left them. Sure, it’s inconvenient, and if it’s one of those days when you just can’t, that’s understandable. The point is progress, not perfection.

• Invest in reusable cloth bags. I carried my reusable plastic bag torch for years. I’d bought them, so I felt compelled to keep using them. But over the years I became resentful of them. Resentful of the amount of physical space they took up. In my home. In the shopping cart. That with wear and tear they became an eyesore. It sounds dramatic, yet I’m sincere when I say that purchasing reusable cloth grocery bags changed my life. Mine fold up into a tiny attached compartment, so I can throw them into my purse, where they take up hardly any space. They also fit 2-3 regular bags worth of groceries, and boast supporting up to 50 lbs. And of course, they come in an absurd array of colors and patterns to fit your personality. But any cloth bag will do—canvas, your backpack. You do you, boo.

• Consider alternatives to produce bags. When you’re picking out your apples or grapefruits from Winco, consider avoiding single-use produce bags altogether. If it’s just a few items, you can toss them in the cart and throw them on the conveyer belt. If you’re going for something like mushrooms or chili peppers, you could repurpose other kinds of bags (I think sturdy tortilla bags with zippers and bread bags are perfect for this). Or, you could invest in reusable produce bags. The mesh ones I found are food safe, BPA-free, and machine washable.

The bottom line: There’s not one “correct” way to cut back on plastic bags. If you’re already on the reusable grocery bag train, congratulations and thank you! If not, the goal is to find a strategy that works for each of us most of the time, and try to stick to it. It’s not going to solve all our problems, but I believe small changes at the individual level can turn into bigger changes within our community and world over time.

Oh, and by the way, California recently passed a new law that will ban the sale of those thicker, reusable plastic bags anyway. Starting January 1, 2026, recycled paper bags will be the only option for purchase at checkout. So it’s a great time to get another system in order before that takes effect. And I personally think the compact, foldable grocery bags make an adorable stocking stuffer for adults. 

###

Ashley Nichole Thomas is a marriage and family therapist who’s passionate about shrinking her carbon footprint. In her free time she writes fantasy novels, and remains unconvinced that fairies don’t exist.