Out with the plastic, in with the paper in California. Those thick plastic so-called reusable bags are now against the law in the state. The effort is to close environmental loopholes to eliminate plastic waste. When you shop now, you have to bring your own bag or pay ten cents for a paper bag. . Produce bags are exempt According to state law, those are still compostable. In two years, by 2028, the new law mandates that all paper bags also be made of at least 50 percent recycled material.