Bill to ban single-use plastic bags, charge US$0.05 fee on paper bags at supermarkets, pharmacies checkouts dies in Oregon Senate; Portland mayor vows to push through local ban in lieu of statewide ban

Alison Gallant

LOS ANGELES , June 14, 2011 (Industry Intelligence) – A bill to ban single-use plastic bags at checkout in supermarkets and pharmacies died on the floor of the Oregon Senate without coming up for vote, OregonLive.com reported June 10.

In addition to banning plastic bags, the measure would have imposed a US$0.05 fee on paper bags. The bill was met with strong resistance from the plastics lobby, OregonLive.com noted.

Supporters of the bill were resigned to the fact that the measure won’t go through this legislative session, but said the issue is not going away.

Portland Mayor Sam Adams had been holding off on signing a citywide ban on plastic bags, hoping for a statewide measure first. He affirmed his commitment to going ahead with a local ban in light of developments at the state capitol, the mayor’s spokeswoman Amy Ruiz said.

The primary source of this article is OregonLive.com, Portland, Oregon, June 10, 2011.

* All content is copyrighted by Industry Intelligence, or the original respective author or source. You may not recirculate, redistrubte or publish the analysis and presentation included in the service without Industry Intelligence's prior written consent. Please review our terms of use.