AB 1998 Summary

• Prohibits stores with specified sales or retail floor space from providing single-use carryout bags beginning January 1, 2012, and requires them to provide only reusable grocery bags meeting state standards after July 1, 2013.

• Requires stores to charge consumers the actual average cost of recycled paper bags and allows free reusable bags only as part of time-limited promotional programs beginning January 1, 2013.

• Mandates reusable grocery bag producers to submit biennial certifications to the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery beginning January 1, 2013, verifying bags meet durability and material requirements, with certification fees deposited into a Reusable Bag Account.

• Requires stores to install visible plastic bag collection bins for recycling single-use and reusable plastic bags beginning January 1, 2012.

• Appropriates $2,000,000 from the Recycling Market Development Revolving Loan Subaccount for loans and grants to support manufacture and recycling of plastic bags using recycled content, and preempts local bag regulations as of January 1, 2011.