Please click below for an overview of the rules applicable to your business:
- Retailers selling products other than food and alcohol – Existing rules in effect
- Retailers selling food and/or alcohol – New rules effective Jan 2026
Retailers selling goods other than food and alcohol
The Reusable Bag Law, adopted by the Alameda County Waste Management Authority in October 2016, remains in effect and is actively enforced. The law bans thin plastic bags at checkout for retailers selling goods other than food and alcohol and requires these retailers to charge customers 10 cents per bag for paper or thick plastic carryout bags.
Retailers affected include:
- Clothing stores
- Hardware stores
- Auto supply stores
- Art supply stores
- Office supply stores
- Sporting goods stores
- Department stores
- Any other non-food/alcohol retailers
The following requirements are in effect:
1. No thin plastic bags at checkout.
Retail stores cannot distribute thin plastic bags at the point of sale, including at self-checkout kiosks, in-store pickup, curbside delivery, or home delivery.
2. Charge at least 10 cents for compliant bags.
Compliant bags include recycled paper bags and thick plastic bags that meet the law's requirements. See specifications for details.
3. Itemize charge on customer receipts.
If you offer bags at checkout, ask customers "Would you like to purchase a paper bag for 10 cents?" Any checkout bags sold must be listed separately on customer receipts.
Bags not affected by the law
Bags without handles used for product protection are allowed and no charge applies. Examples include:
- Dry cleaner garment bags
- Dust bags for delicate items
- Poster sleeves
- Small bags for hardware (nails, screws)
For more information, see the FAQ.
Questions?
Contact us by completing our online contact form, leaving a message for call back at 510-891-6575, or by email at bags@stopwaste.org.
Retailers selling food and/or alcohol – NEW RULES
Effective January 2026: Under a new state law, SB 1053, most retailers selling food and/or alcohol can no longer distribute plastic carryout bags at checkout and must charge 10 cents for compliant paper bags. These new requirements have been integrated into the Alameda County Reusable Bag Ordinance which remains in effect.
Retailers affected include:
- Grocery stores
- Retail stores with a pharmacy
- Convenience stores
- Food marts
- Liquor stores
The following requirements are in effect:
1. Stop using plastic bags at checkout.
Stores cannot distribute film plastic bags of any type at point of sale, including at the cash register, self-checkout kiosks, in-store pickup, curbside delivery, or home delivery.
2. Charge at least 10 cents for compliant paper bags.
Stores selling paper bags at checkout must charge at least 10 cents per bag and itemize the charge on customer receipts. Paper bags must contain at least 40% recycled content and meet the law's requirements. See specifications for details.
Bags not affected by the law
Bags without handles used for product protection are allowed and no charge applies. Examples include:
- Produce bags
- Meat and deli wrapping
- Bulk food bags
- Prescription bags
Bags at no cost
State law SB 1053 requires stores to provide a recycled paper bag at no cost at the point of sale to customers participating in WIC and CalFresh/Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) programs.
Suggestions to inform customers
- StopWaste offers free postcards with information for customers that can be placed in a prominent location such as the cash register. Postcards are available in various languages. Click here to order.
- If you offer bags at checkout, ask customers: "Would you like to purchase a paper bag for 10 cents?"
For more information, see the FAQ.