Polystyrene foam takeout container ban fails to pass Oregon House on Earth Day
Tracy Loew
Legislation to ban polystyrene foam takeout containers and cups failed to pass the House Monday, becoming the first bill to fail a floor vote this session.
The bill failed on a 29-29 vote after a 30-minute discussion. It may come back to the floor for reconsideration.
Both supporters and opponents said it was significant that the vote was taking place on Earth Day.
“Unlike many other types of plastic, polystyrene is not accepted in curbside recycling,” said Rep. Sheri Schouten, D-Beaverton, the bill’s carrier and chief sponsor. “These plastics break apart easily, staying in our environment as tiny particles that find their way into rivers and ultimately into the ocean.”
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Opponents, meanwhile, pointed out that a Tigard company, Agilyx, has begun recycling polystyrene dropped off by consumers.
They said banning polystyrene would just encourage restaurants to use other plastics that are less recyclable.
“To ban a product that can be recycled is not the cure,” said Rep. Margaret Doherty, D-Tigard. “There is a solution to this problem and that is to come up with a way to have a recycling center or work with garbage haulers and other folks like Metro to come up with a transfer system.”
HB 2883 is part of a trio of bills meant to reduce plastic waste and pollution. Others would ban single-use plastic bags, and make customers ask for plastic straws.
The three plastics bans have been named a top priority by several environmental groups.
“Plastic pollution poses an urgent threat to Oregon’s lakes, rivers, and oceans, and reducing the amount of single-use plastics we use is a crucial first step towards protecting our wildlife and public health,” Environment Oregon state director Celeste Meiffren-Swango said in a statement.
HB 2509, the plastic bag ban, was scheduled for a public hearing and possible work session in the House Rules Committee Monday afternoon.
The bill would ban single-use plastic checkout bags, and impose a 5-cent fee on single-use paper bags, with some exceptions.
SB 90, which would make plastic straws available to restaurant and convenience store customers only upon request, has been approved by the Senate and is awaiting a hearing in a House committee.
Both bills were amended to contain preemption clauses, meaning cities and counties can’t impose stricter regulations, though those that already have could keep them.
Contact the reporter at tloew@statesmanjournal.com, 503-399-6779 or follow at Twitter.com/Tracy_Loew
