Opponents of the ban included the American Chemistry Council that said consumers should have a choice as to how they carry groceries and put jobs in the sector at risk.

Assemblywoman Julia Brownley authored the bill and has been trying to pass legislation on bags for the past three years.

"It's not a matter of if, but a matter of when consumers bring their own bags and become good stewards of the environment," ABC cites Brownley as saying.

"Plastic bags are a ubiquitous product and California uses 19 billion a year. It's very difficult to really clean it up. It's very easy for us to change our habits."