Plastic bags are flooding Tennessee’s roadsides, rivers, and green spaces.

They tangle in trees, clog storm drains, and pollute our cherished natural landscapes—from the Smoky Mountains to the Mississippi River. Most are used for just a few minutes—but they stick around for hundreds of years.

California just took a bold step: starting in 2026, all plastic shopping bags will be banned statewide. That includes the so-called “reusable” plastic bags still allowed in many states. Shoppers who forget to bring their own bags can still request a paper one—but plastic is finally off the checkout line.

It’s time for Tennessee to do the same.

We are calling on the Tennessee General Assembly and Governor Bill Lee to pass legislation that bans plastic shopping bags at all major retail points, including grocery stores, pharmacies, liquor stores, and convenience stores.

Tennessee is falling behind on one of the simplest, most effective ways to reduce pollution.

Why this matters:

• Plastic bags don’t decompose for centuries—they just break into toxic microplastics
• They choke and kill wildlife who mistake them for food
• They clog drainage systems, increasing flood risks in both urban and rural areas
• They cost cities millions in cleanup costs every year
• They contaminate rivers and lakes, putting human health at risk.

Californians voted for change, and their lawmakers listened. Now Tennessee can lead the South in taking action that works—for the planet and for our communities.

Let’s stop treating pollution like someone else’s problem. Let’s stop pretending these bags are harmless. Let’s do something real.

Sign the petition to tell Tennessee lawmakers: Ban plastic shopping bags like California. The time for action is now.