Will Oregon be the first to ban the bag?

Plastic bags: The facts

The word is out. Single-use plastic bags represent one of the greatest environmental catastrophes of our generation. An estimated 60 to 80 percent of all debris in the ocean is plastic. Plastics take hundreds of years to break down at sea and most types never truly biodegrade. As a result, marine animals often get entangled in the debris or mistake it for food.

Every painful subject needs a little humor. Check out this short mockumentary, narrated by Jeremy Irons, about the plastic bag's arduous journey to the ocean.

California bows to pressure from the chemical industry

Late Tuesday night, California lawmakers rejected a bill that would have banned plastic shopping bags. The bill would have been the first statewide ban of plastic shopping bags, although a few California cities already prohibit their use. National Public Radio has a good round up of the legislation.

The bill's main opponent, the Virginia-based American Chemistry Council, spent millions in lobbying fees, radio ads and even a prime-time television ad attacking the measure. The organization represents plastic bag manufacturers such as Dow Chemical Co. and ExxonMobil Corp.

Discouraging plastic bag use through fees or bans first gained traction outside of the U.S. in countries such as South Africa, Ireland, China and Bangladesh. In January, Washington, D.C. implemented a five-cent surcharge on disposable paper and plastic bags.

Oregon: A chance to pave the way

In Oregon, we've seen some small steps in support of a ban--Fred Meyer stores no longer offer plastic bags to their shoppers and the City of Portland passed an resolution to urge a statewide ban during the 2011 Legislative session next year in which Oregon will have the opportunity to be a pioneer on this type of legislation. That work is already in progress.

Several Oregon Conservation Network members, including Oregon Surfrider, Environment Oregon, and Willamette Riverkeeper, are working to pass a ban on single-use plastic bags at retailers across the state. Both Senator Mark Hass and Representative Ben Cannon are committed to passing the ban next session. The Ban the Bag campaign has been working with local cities to pass ordinance, such as in Cannon Beach.

As the session approaches, stay tuned for more updates as we move forward with Oregon Conservation Networks' 2011 Priorities for a Healthy Oregon.