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News June 12, 2019

Oregon Poised To Ban Single-Use Plastic Bags

The prohibitions could benefit the promo industry.

By  Christopher Ruvo

Oregon is a governor’s signature away from effectively banning single-use plastic bags and placing prohibitions on disposable plastic straws. If inked into law, the measures could potentially help drive sales of branded reusable alternatives like totes, drawstring backpacks and reusable straws – a possible boon for the promotional products industry.

The Beaver State’s Senate voted this week in favor of a bill that would bar most single-use plastic bags from checkout counters. The bill allows retailers to provide recycled paper bags, reusable heavy plastic bags, or reusable fabric bags for a charge of at least 5 cents per bag. Meanwhile, restaurants would be allowed to give customers recycled paper bags at no cost, or reusable plastic bags for a charge of at least 5 cents per bag.

Previously approved by the state House, the bill is now destined for the desk of Gov. Kate Brown, who is expected to sign it.

Brown will also soon consider whether or not to give her blessing to a legislature-approved bill that would prohibit restaurants and convenience stores from automatically including disposable plastic straws with drinks they serve customers. There are caveats, though: A straw can be provided if a patron requests one and drive-thru orders are exempt from the prohibition, for example.

Should Oregon approve a single-use plastic bag ban law, it would join California, New York and Hawaii as having statewide bans. Maine is among the other states considering a similar ban. Meanwhile, Canada is looking into placing prohibitions on single-use plastic products – potentially bags, water bottles and straws – at a national level by 2021, officials there announced this week.

The motivation behind the bans is environmental. Ban proponents say that single-use plastic bags and straws present a threat to wildlife and cause pollution. The world produces more than 300 million tons of plastic each year, according to Statista, and scientists estimate that up to 91% of plastic is never recycled.