
Ban all plastic carryout bags in Oregon
Environment Oregon outlines our priorities for the 2025 legislative session, as we work to reduce plastic pollution, protect Oregon's wildlife and special places, support clean, renewable energy, and more.
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We envision a greener Oregon: one that protects more places where nature can thrive, and offers us and our children a greater opportunity to live healthier, more enriching lives. Through our research, public education, advocacy, litigation and action, we advance policies and practices that put our state and our country on a better path.
Here are our legislative priorities for 2025.
Nothing we use for a few minutes should pollute the environment and harm wildlife for hundreds of years. Plastic pollution is creating an environmental disaster for ocean wildlife: plastic and other marine debris kills millions of sea turtles, seabirds and marine mammals every year. It’s time to move beyond single-use plastic by getting rid of the most harmful waste, and stopping the use of things we truly don’t need.
That’s why Environment Oregon supports:
We waste too much food in Oregon– almost 1 million tons of food went uneaten in 2022 alone. That would fill enough garbage trucks to line up along I-5 from the Northern to the Southern borders of Oregon almost three times. About one third of that uneaten food ends up in landfills where it produces methane, a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. Given the amount of time, resources and labor it takes to produce our food, the last thing we should do is toss it in the trash, when it could be used to feed Oregonians or enrich our soil. House Bill 3018 would standardize food labeling practices to reduce consumer confusion, and require large food waste generators to responsibly dispose of wasted food using alternative methods like composting, rather than sending it to the landfill.
Our ocean and coast boast immense ecosystems like kelp forests, tidepools and underwater seagrass meadows. These areas contain wildlife like migrating gray whales, nesting puffins and runs of salmon. Unfortunately, these environments are imperiled by the threats of climate change, plastic pollution and marine debris, development and more. We need to prioritize solutions that make them more resilient to these stressors.
That’s why Environment Oregon supports:
Oregon’s wildlife is facing a crisis—fragmented habitats are forcing animals to risk their lives crossing busy highways in search of food, shelter, and mates. Every year, countless animals, from majestic elk to vulnerable species like frogs and salamanders, are killed on our roads, disrupting ecosystems and putting drivers at risk. But there’s hope. Wildlife crossings are a proven solution, reducing collisions and reconnecting habitats so animals can move safely. Environment Oregon supports securing more funding for these vital projects across the state.
Bees are dying at alarming rates. Franklin’s bumblebee hasn’t been seen in Oregon since 2006, and Western bumblebee populations have dropped 90% in 20 years. Pesticides, especially neonics, are a major cause—damaging bees’ brains, impairing navigation, and reducing reproduction. Lawmakers could make neonics a restricted-use pesticide by passing House Bill 2679 in 2025 to protect these vital pollinators. Bees support 90% of wild flowering plants, our ecosystems, and foods like marionberries, apples and potatoes. This is our chance to join 12 other states in protecting bees and other pollinators.
Over 50 million people visit Oregon’s incredible state parks each year. And it’s no wonder, our state parks are amazing, featuring rugged coastlines, lush forests, high deserts, mountains, lakes, and waterfalls — with recreational opportunities for hikers, anglers and every level of outdoor enthusiast. But inadequate and unreliable funding is taking a toll: Visitors face worn-down trails, neglected facilities, and too few rangers to keep parks clean and safe. We’re calling on the Oregon legislature to secure robust, stable funding to better support our state parks.
Gas-powered lawn mowers, string trimmers, leaf blowers, chainsaws and other garden equipment generate a large amount of pollution and noise. In 2020, gas powered lawn & garden equipment emitted an estimated 374 tons of harmful “fine particulate” air pollution– an amount equivalent to the pollution emitted by 4 million typical cars over the course of a year. Environment Oregon supports creating an incentive to encourage residents and/or businesses to switch from gas powered equipment to cleaner, quieter electric alternatives.
Every year, enough sunlight shines on America to provide 100 times more power than we need, but we’re only capturing a tiny percent of it. Harnessing more of the sun’s energy is an important tool in our clean energy toolbox, so we can have cleaner air, a more stable climate, more resilient communities and a brighter future. Environment Oregon supports policies that encourage the growth of solar in Oregon, especially rooftop solar and community solar projects.
We have the ability to harness clean, abundant energy from the sun, the wind and the earth, and to fully repower our society with 100 percent renewable sources. We support policies in Oregon that further encourage a shift away from burning fossil fuels in our residential and commercial buildings and power our homes and businesses with clean energy.
Improving energy efficiency saves energy, lowers bills, makes homes and workplaces more comfortable and reduces pollution. For all these reasons, reducing energy waste should be the first fuel we turn to.
As director of Environment Oregon, Celeste develops and runs campaigns to win real results for Oregon's environment. She has worked on issues ranging from preventing plastic pollution, stopping global warming, defending clean water, and protecting our beautiful places. Celeste's organizing has helped to reduce kids' exposure to lead in drinking water at childcare facilities in Oregon, encourage transportation electrification, ban single-use plastic grocery bags, defend our bedrock environmental laws and more. She is also the author of the children's book, Myrtle the Turtle, empowering kids to prevent plastic pollution. Celeste lives in Portland, Ore., with her husband and two daughters, where they frequently enjoy the bounty of Oregon's natural beauty.