July 17, 2010

By Chris Conrad
Mail Tribune
Carrie Newsom says environmental concerns lead her to favor a statewide ban on plastic grocery bags.

However, she asks that politicians ensure there is a viable alternative in place before pushing through legislation imposing a ban on plastic bags at checkout counters across Oregon.

Where to recycle
The Jackson County Recycling Partnership says plastic bags cannot be placed in curbside recycling bins. Instead, consumers are advised to drop off plastic grocery bags at the following locations:


Southern Oregon Sanitation, 42 Ball Road in Eagle Point
Recology Ashland Sanitary Service, intersection of Water and Van Ness streets
Allied Envionmental Services, 8266 13th Street, White City
Numerous local grocery stores have a plastic bag recycling program

"I know the bags are bad for the environment," Newsom said as she loaded several plastic bags stuffed with groceries into her car outside Medford's Food-4-Less grocery store Friday. "But I've heard the reusable bags are not healthy and paper bags are hard to carry and aren't as strong."

Like many Rogue Valley shoppers, Newsom reuses her plastic bags. She uses the grocery bags in her garbage cans and donates extras to her church.

"It's important to recycle them, too," Newsom said.

State Sens. Jason Atkinson, R-Central Point, and Mark Hass, D-Beaverton, drafted plastic-bag-ban legislation in February and hope to get it passed in the 2011 legislative session.

Atkinson, who is a proponent of efforts to clean waterways and improve fish runs, said he believes barring grocers from relying on plastic bags would be a good environmental and economic move for Oregon.

"All you need to do is go to a landfill and see that they are full of plastic bags," Atkinson said. "And just take a look at chainlink fences and our rivers to see more evidence of the damage these bags do."

Atkinson said dealing with the state's dismal economy remains his top priority, but noted the plastic ban could help Oregon's mills should more grocers move to paper bags.

"In Oregon we have mills that make wood products that could include paper bags," Atkinson said.

Tim Weaver, watershed coordinator for the Little Butte Creek Watershed Council, said the bags hurt fish runs when they find their way into rivers and streams.

"They get tangled up with the fish and end up out in the ocean," Weaver said. "So not only are the bags unsightly, they inhibit wildlife as well."

Diana Bartlett, program coordinator for SOLV, which directs beach and river cleanups each year in Oregon, said plastic bags account for 12 percent of the debris found by the beach cleanup crews.



Portland Mayor Sam Adams also has been vocal in his opposition to plastic bags. Adams is seeking a local ordinance keeping the bags from checkout stands in Portland.

"A lot of municipalities are picking up the ball with this issue," Atkinson said. "Meanwhile, we have been working with grocers to find the best solution that will make the least financial impact on consumers."

Northwest Grocery Association President Joe Gilliam has said he generally supports the ban, but wants to ensure it is enforce fairly across the state.

In a statement released Friday to the Mail Tribune, Gilliam wrote, "All retailers should be included in the ban to reduce consumer confusion and increase efficiency of the ordinance."

The American Chemistry Council, which conducts research for petroleum companies, is against the ban. The plastic bags are made from oil.

In an e-mail exchange with the Mail Tribune, American Chemistry Council spokeswoman Allyson Wilson said consumers already have local recycling opportunities to deal with plastic bags. The bags can be reformed to make park benches, backyard decks and playground equipment, she said.

Newsom's concern about the health problems associated with reusable cloth and canvas bags came from a widely publicized University of Arizona study which found that mold and bacteria are common in reusable bags.

In the study, university researchers advised users to wash the bags often to keep bacteria such as E. coli away from groceries.

Atkinson said the plastic bag ban could serve anotherpurpose by proving Democrats and Republicans can work together to solve problems.

"If you can find the middle road that can please everyone, good things happen," he said.

Reach reporter Chris Conrad at 541-776-4471 or e-mail cconrad@mailtribune.com.