Plastic-free & Easy

we dig it when it’s reused.

California is leading the way

Plastic-Free Pre-Checkout bag ordinance

With the passage of CA SB1046, starting January 1, 2025, all pre-check out bags provided by grocery stores and other retail environments will have to be made from compostable materials. Petroleum based plastic bags will be prohibited.

While we’ll offer compostable solutions, we encourage you to take this moment to make the switch to reusable options.

Getting ready for the change

Organic Produce in Reusable Mesh Produce Bag
plan Ahead
  • Make a note of when you normally use plastic bags.
  • Research reusable bags, and other alternatives to disposables.
  • Keep a stash of the disposable bags you’re using now.
ReUse
  • Put produce in a box, backpack, or satchel.
  • Invest in a reusable cloth bag.
  • Use jars from your leftover sauces, jams, and jellies for purchasing bulk foods.
  • Did you know? Customers receive a $0.05 cent credit for every container they reuse in our store.
Use Less
  • For produce with peels, consider not using a bag.
East Bay Natural Grocers Good To Know Things Graphic

This includes both pre-checkout and checkout solutions.

BAG ORDINAnCE FAQs

The bill defines a “pre checkout bag” for this purpose to mean a bag provided to a customer before the customer reaches the point of sale, that is designed to protect a purchased item from damaging or contaminating other purchased items in a checkout bag, or to contain an unwrapped food item.

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