Carryout Bag Rules for Businesses
State and local laws regulate carryout bags that retailers and restaurants in Alameda County can distribute at the point of sale. Aimed at reducing waste and litter from single-use bags, these laws ban thin plastic carryout bags at all retail businesses and eating establishments and control the type of other carryout bags distributed. Note that effective January 2026 bag rules have changed for stores selling food and/or alcohol.
Please refer to the rules specific to your business for details:
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Retailers selling food and/or alcohol, such as grocery or liquor stores.
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Retailers selling products other than food and alcohol, such as clothing or hardware stores.
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Eating establishments, such as restaurants, cafes and food delivery services.
Why Regulate Carryout Bags?
Plastic bags are one of the most common litter items found in our waterways, and plastic pollution is a growing threat to oceans and marine life. Plastic bags can't effectively be recycled and break down into persistent microplastics that can enter the food chain, threatening the environment and possibly human health. Shopping with reusable bags helps reduce litter and waste, protects creeks and the Bay, and conserves natural resources.
Since implementation in 2016, Alameda County’s reusable bag ordinance has had dramatic results:
- Overall bag purchases by affected Alameda County retail stores have declined by an estimated 80 percent.
- The number of shoppers bringing a reusable bag, or not using a bag at all, has more than doubled.
- 44% decrease in plastic bags found in County storm drains.