So, what should Oregon do?

We believe that a statewide ban on plastic bags is not the most economical choice for everyone, and may have a wide variety of harmful effects on the environment. Although plastic pollution is certainly an urgent issue, the banning of single-use bags isn’t a guaranteed solution to reducing our impact on the environment.

Plastic bags can be recycled, repurposed and reused, unlike paper bags and some cotton bags. This means that individuals and families can depend on using plastic grocery bags for a wide variety of other household uses, knowing that they’ll last for a long time and retain their durability. With a statewide ban, that option will be removed and people will need to look to other alternatives, or increase their paper bag use. With an increase in paper bag consumption on behalf of shoppers, greenhouse gas emissions will likely rise, as well as toxicity levels in local and international water reservoirs.

Rather than implement a statewide ban, we would suggest taxing plastic bags at grocery stores to encourage shoppers to make a switch towards reusable cotton or hemp bags. Although we fully acknowledge the detrimental effects plastic bags can have on marine life and the environment, it certainly is not the biggest enemy to the health of ecosystems and humans. Focusing our attention on the incredible problem of food waste in the United States, or the benefits of renewable energy and production of sustainable goods, we believe, would be much better uses of our time. Plastic pollution is not something that will go away anytime soon (or ever) but in terms of the environment as a whole, there are much more pressing issues that can lead to a wealth of positive change for our lives and the wellbeing of future generations.