Alexei Volkov
Plastic bags are a major source of litter and have a detrimental impact on wildlife. In 2011, Portland adopted a ban on plastic bags, prohibiting plastic shopping bags at the checkouts of major grocers and certain big-box stores. The ban includes any plastic checkout bag that is less than 4 mil, even those labelled 'biodegradable' or 'compostable'. The ban, which came into effect on October 15, 2011, was designed to curb pollution and reduce the harmful impacts of plastic on the environment. The city encourages the use of reusable bags and allows retailers and grocery stores to charge a fee for paper checkout bags.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic grocery bags | Prohibited |
| Plastic bags for produce, meat, and bulk food at grocery stores | Allowed |
| Plastic bags for medicine | Allowed |
| Plastic bags at Portland Farmers Market | Allowed |
| Paper bag fee | 5 cents (or more) |
| Paper bag composition | At least 40% post-consumer recycled fiber |
| Reusable bag fee | 5 cents (or more) |
| Reusable bag composition | Thick plastic (4 mil or more) or fabric |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic bags are a major source of litter
In Portland, plastic single-use checkout bags cannot be provided by retailers, grocery stores, or restaurants. This is because plastic bags are a major source of litter and have significant harmful impacts on the environment. The lightweight nature of plastic bags means they can easily blow out of garbage cans, trucks, and landfills, ending up in open spaces, storm drains, and eventually rivers and oceans. This process contributes to the annual 8 million tons of plastic that end up in the world's oceans, with plastic pollution being found in the majority of the world's tap water and in the stomachs of wildlife and aquatic animals.
Plastic bags are a significant contributor to this issue due to their durability and resistance to degradation. They do not fully disappear but instead break down into smaller and smaller pieces, known as microplastics and nanoplastics. These tiny plastic particles are often mistaken for food by fish and farm animals, which can then end up on our dinner plates. Plastic waste also clogs sewers, providing breeding grounds for mosquitoes and pests, increasing the transmission of vector-borne diseases like malaria.
The negative consequences of plastic bag litter are not limited to environmental and health issues but also impact economies. The build-up of plastic litter can affect a country's economy and trade systems, causing income declines in sectors such as small and medium enterprises, tourism, fisheries, and agriculture.
To address the problem of plastic bag litter, many national and local governments have implemented policies to reduce the use of disposable plastic. Portland, for example, has banned plastic single-use checkout bags and encourages the use of reusable bags by allowing stores to charge a fee for paper or reusable bags. Other strategies to reduce plastic bag litter include public awareness campaigns, incentives for recycling, levies, and banning specific plastic products.
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Plastic bags are detrimental to wildlife
In Portland, Oregon, single-use plastic checkout bags are prohibited from being distributed by retailers, grocery stores, and restaurants. This is due to the harmful impacts of plastic on the environment. Plastic bags are a major source of litter and are detrimental to wildlife that ingests them.
Plastic bags can take up to 1000 years to decompose, and during that time, they can cause significant harm to wildlife. One of the main ways plastic bags are detrimental to wildlife is through ingestion. Animals may mistake plastic bags for food, such as jellyfish, and consume them. Once ingested, plastic bags cannot be digested or passed by an animal, so they stay in the gut, preventing food digestion and leading to a slow and painful death. This was the case for a pelican found dead in Kiama, which had eaten 17 plastic bags, and a calf in Mudgee NSW, which had ingested eight plastic bags. In August 2000, a whale died after becoming stranded on a Cairns beach, and an autopsy found that its stomach was filled with plastic checkout bags.
Plastic bags can also entangle wildlife, preventing them from moving to hunt for food and making them more vulnerable to predators. Animals can suffer from overheating, suffocation, dehydration, starvation, and eventual death if they get trapped in plastic bags or containers. For example, in May 2003, a platypus was rescued after a plastic bag became wrapped around its body, cutting into its skin. Plastic rings from beverage holders can also cause deep cuts on animals, such as raccoons, and impede the ability of birds to fly and hunt.
Microplastics, which are tiny plastic particles less than five millimeters long, are another concern for wildlife. Microplastics can pass through animals' digestive systems and have been found in hundreds of species, including sea turtles, seabirds, and marine mammals. Tests have shown that microplastics can cause liver and cell damage and disrupt reproductive systems. They can enter the environment through sewage, which is used as fertilizer, and leech into soil and water sources from landfills and other environments.
The global production and consumption of plastic continue to increase, but we are not disposing of and recycling plastics at the same rate. Plastic pollution is projected to double by 2040, with about 11 million tonnes of land-based plastic waste entering the ocean each year. This will have adverse effects on wildlife, with more animals being entangled or ingesting plastic.
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Paper bags are more expensive for stores
In Portland, Oregon, plastic single-use checkout bags are banned from being provided by retailers, grocery stores, and restaurants. This legislation aims to reduce the harmful impacts of plastic bags on the environment, particularly their persistence as litter and their detrimental effects on wildlife.
While paper bags are presented as a more environmentally friendly alternative, they are more expensive for stores. Paper bag production is resource-intensive, requiring deforestation, significant water usage, and complex machinery. The higher production costs of paper bags are reflected in their price. In contrast, plastic bags are cheaper to produce, but they contribute to long-term environmental and economic costs.
The choice between paper and plastic bags involves balancing immediate costs with the environmental and economic impacts. Paper bags, though pricier, are biodegradable and recyclable. However, their production impacts wildlife habitats and increases carbon emissions and water pollution. On the other hand, plastic bags are non-biodegradable and persist in the environment, leading to expensive cleanup efforts and negative effects on tourism and marine life.
To comply with Portland's regulations, stores may opt to provide paper checkout bags for a fee. This fee allows stores to recover the higher costs associated with providing paper bags. Additionally, stores can provide free reusable bags as a promotion, but this is limited to a specific number of days per year.
While paper bags entail higher upfront costs for stores, the long-term environmental and economic consequences of plastic bags cannot be overlooked. The debate surrounding paper versus plastic bags underscores the complexity of balancing economic considerations with sustainability goals.
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Plastic bags are banned at checkouts
The ban applies to plastic single-use checkout bags provided by retailers, grocery stores, and restaurants. This includes any plastic bag less than 4 mil, even those labelled 'biodegradable' or 'compostable'. However, there are some exemptions to the ban. For instance, plastic bags can still be used for produce, meat, and bulk food items at grocery stores. Additionally, pharmacists are allowed to use plastic bags to protect customer privacy when dispensing medication.
The ban encourages customers to bring their own bags when shopping. Stores may provide free reusable bags as a promotion but only for up to 12 days per year. Customers who use an electronic benefits transfer card or have a Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) voucher can also receive free reusable plastic checkout bags.
The city of Portland has implemented this ban to address the harmful environmental impacts of plastic bags. Plastic bags are a major source of litter and can have detrimental effects on wildlife when ingested. They can break down into small, toxic pieces that are consumed by animals, polluting the environment for hundreds of years.
By banning plastic bags at checkouts, Portland is taking a stand against plastic pollution and encouraging the use of more sustainable alternatives, such as reusable bags. This measure is a step towards creating a greener and more environmentally conscious city.
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Plastic bags are banned at major grocers and big-box stores
The purpose of the ban is to curb pollution and reduce the harmful impacts of plastic bags on the environment. Plastic bags are a major source of litter and can have detrimental effects on wildlife when ingested. They can act like balloons, blowing out of garbage cans, trucks, and landfills, eventually ending up in rivers and oceans, and breaking down into small, toxic pieces that are consumed by animals.
As an alternative to plastic bags, retailers and grocery stores in Portland can provide paper checkout bags made with at least 40% post-consumer recycled fiber for a fee of 5 cents or more per bag. Customers who have a Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) voucher or electronic benefits transfer card are exempt from paying this fee. Reusable bags, such as thick plastic (4 mil or more) or fabric bags, can also be provided for a fee, although stores may offer free reusable bags as a promotion for up to 12 days per year.
To avoid the cost of buying bags, customers are encouraged to bring their own bags, backpacks, or reusable bags when shopping.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Portland has banned single-use plastic bags in grocery stores, retail stores, and restaurants.
The ordinance was approved in July 2011 and came into effect on October 15, 2011.
Alternatives include paper bags made with at least 40% post-consumer recycled fiber, and reusable bags made of thick plastic, fabric, or other washable materials.
Paper bags are typically charged at 5 cents or more, while reusable bags may also be provided for a fee of 5 cents or more.
