Why we need to strengthen Oregon’s plastic bag ban

We’ve known for a long time that single-use plastic bags are wasteful. They create plastic pollution in our communities, threaten our health and the environment and can harm wildlife. Nothing we use for a few minutes should threaten our health and pollute our environment for hundreds of years—especially when it’s “stuff” we don’t need.

Plastic bags are bad for the environment and harm wildlife

Plastic bags aren’t just unsightly; they can also be deadly to sea life and harmful to our health. Littered plastic bags and films are frequently ingested by marine animals and cause more sea turtle and cetacean (whales, dolphins and porpoises) deaths than any other type of plastic. The production, use and disposal of single-use plastic bags also releases water and air pollution that harms our health. Plastic bags, like other plastics, don’t fully degrade, so they can continue to pollute the environment with harmful microplastics for hundreds of years after use. 

When plastic breaks down it turns into smaller and smaller pieces called microplastics. These microplastics have been found in every part of the globe, from the highest mountain peaks, to the deepest ocean trenches. Microplastic is also being found in human bodies, potentially exposing us to harmful chemicals that can impact our health.

Oregon should move beyond plastic bags

In 2019, the Oregon legislature passed a ban on single-use plastic grocery bags, which went into effect on January 1, 2020. The ban applies to all retail, grocery and convenience stores and restaurants, and requires a five cent fee for single-use paper bags and all reusable bags handed out at check out. 

Unfortunately, some so-called “reusable” bags have shown up in the form of thicker plastic film bags at checkout. And while they are marketed as a bag that can be reused over 100 times, the reality is that few people actually reuse them and instead treat them as single-use. The result? They end up as trash and harm our environment just as much as the thinner ones did.

We need to fix our bag ban law to actually get rid of all plastic film carryout bags.

The Oregon legislature can ban all plastic bags

The Oregon legislature will be considering a new bill that would update our bag ban to prevent all plastic film bags from being provided at grocery stores, retail stores and restaurants during the 2025 legislative session. 

We know well-designed plastic bag laws work, and are effective at reducing plastic pollution. The state of New Jersey has banned all plastic bags at stores and restaurants and data from the New Jersey Plastics Advisory Council estimates the law eliminates 5.51 billion plastic bags per year. 

Oregon has been a leader in addressing plastic pollution, and momentum is building for our state to continue to lead the way by getting rid of plastic film bags once and for all. As a state known for our iconic coastline and beautiful scenery, we have a lot at stake. We know there is support from the public to move away from unnecessary single-use plastics, which is why we were able to get the original bag ban passed in the first place. And if we build enough public support, we can win. 

Environment Oregon has a history of effective work to reduce plastic waste. From helping to build support to pass the original bag ban in 2019, and most recently, a bill to phase out polystyrene foam containers, packing peanuts and single-use coolers, we’ve been organizing our members and the general public to move away from wasteful single-use plastic. We’ve seen time and time again that when we combine the power of public opinion with strategic advocacy, we can win. 

Once we succeed in getting rid of all single-use plastic bags, we’ll see a difference in cleaner parks, streets, beaches and waters, decreased exposure to toxic materials for humans and wildlife, and less waste choking our planet.

Support our efforts by asking your legislator to support strengthening Oregon’s plastic bag ban in 2025.