As you may have seen on the front page of the Oregonian, BAN the BAG is gaining momentum, yet again, and going statewide!
On Dec. 15th, several Surfrider Oregon Chapter activists headed to Salem to represent the incredible, grassroots work we have done to gain support and raise awareness on the environmental and economic costs associated with Single-Use Plastic Bags.
Portland Chapter Chair, Nastassja "Staj" Pace, testified on behalf of Surfrider to the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee asking for support on a comprehensive, statewide policy banning single-use plastic bags and instating a small disincentive on paper bags. "We believe [this policy] will be the most effective way to eliminate unnecessary plastic waste in our oceans and encourage consumers to shift towards reusables," Pace stated.
Support for such a policy was not only heard from other environmental groups including Audubon Society, Willamette Riverkeepers and Environment Oregon, but also from the Northwest Grocery Association, Fred Meyer Stores, International Paper, and Far West Fibers.
Jeff Murray, Vice President of Far West Fibers – Material Recover Facility, expressed his support for a ban and reported, "plastic bags and film pose the single biggest challenge for properly resorting recyclables," and added that 25 to 30 percent of total labor costs are spent on shutting machines down and physically cutting jammed plastic film out of the machinery "during every single break."
Plastic bags are not recyclable curbside in the State of Oregon.
Bill Gardner, General Manager of Kraft Bag/International Paper, said "paper recycling is an environmental and economic success," adding that 66 percent of all paper packaging is being recycled with plastic being 5 times less.
Paper bags are made in Oregon. The Kraft bag manufacturing plant in Beaverton employs nearly 1,000 Oregonians. No plastic bags are made within the state
As support form these key players grows and consumers' habits shift towards using re-usable bags, we still need your help to make this ban a success!
Things you can do:
Check out media coverage on the Oregonian & Oregon Capital News. Make comments and share on Facebook.
Write your representative and express why banning plastic bags is important to you. Don't know who they are. Click here.
Join Surfrider Foundation, find a chapter near you, or get involved with the Portland Chapter! And maybe you could be the next activist testifying to your Senate. If public speaking isn't your thing, you could educate others by tabling at a music concert at the Crystal Ballroom, during First Thursday Art in Pearl or even at your school. If you are at all interested and want to get involved or just learn more contact the Portland Chair: staj.pace@oregonsurfrider.org.