Disposable Plastic Bag Requirements
Effective January 1, 2026, the State of California mandated that grocery stores, retail stores with a pharmacy, convenience stores, food marts, and liquor stores can no longer distribute plastic carryout or pre-checkout bags. These State requirements increase Palo Alto’s previous single-use checkout bag requirements by not allowing any plastic bags, regardless of thickness. Find all the details regarding this statewide law on CalRecycle's website.
Carryout Bag Requirements
Customers are encouraged to bring their own reusable carryout bags. Stores can provide recycled paper carryout bags for a minimum charge of ten cents ($0.10) per bag at checkout counters, self-checkout kiosks, in-store pickup, curbside delivery, and home delivery. Paper carryout bags must be accepted for recycling in Palo Alto and have the name of the manufacturer, the country where the bag was manufactured, and the percentage of postconsumer content printed on the bag.
Food Service Establishments such as delicatessens, convenience stores, and food trucks selling prepared food cannot distribute single-use plastic checkout bags for food items in Palo Alto. Customers can opt for no bag or pay $0.10 per paper bag. Restaurants are excluded from charging a fee for paper bags. Restaurants may use individual paper or plastic product bags without handles around containers of soups or stews to prevent spilling.
Food Service Establishments located within a retail establishment (e.g., a café within a department store, or a delicatessen within a grocery store) must follow ordinance requirements for food service establishments when registers are designated only for the sale of prepared food. If customers purchase retail items along with prepared food, the entire purchase is subject to the ordinance requirements for retailers including the minimum ten cent ($0.10) charge for paper or reusable bags. Read the Complete Ordinance
Pre-Checkout Bag Requirements
Pre-checkout bags are provided to a customer before the customer reaches the point of sale. They are designed to protect items from damaging or contaminating others in a carryout bag or to contain an unwrapped food item. An example is a bag in the produce section that would hold loose produce or multiple fruits.
Customers are encouraged to bring their own reusable pre-checkout bags. Stores may only provide customers with pre-checkout bags that are made of recycled paper or compostable plastic that are BPI certified or have the word "Compostable" printed on them.
If you’re shopping in Palo Alto and notice stores not meeting the requirements, let us know so we can help them reach compliance with this statewide law.
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