SALEM, Oregon — (The video with this story is from June, 2018, when the Portland city council passed new regulations on straws)
Plastic straws could be off the menu under a measure making its way through the Oregon Legislature.
The Oregon Senate voted 23-6 Thursday on Senate Bill 90 to prohibit restaurants from providing single-use plastic straws unless a customer asks. Drive-thrus could still be able to offer straws.
Sen. Michael Dembrow, a Democrat from Portland, said that single-use plastics may be convenient, but they carry long-term environmental costs.
Oregon would become the second in the nation after California to enact such a measure. Cities - including Seattle, New York City, and Portland - have also moved to ban plastic straws.
The proposal now goes to the House for consideration.
House Bill 2883, which would ban food vendors from using polystyrene (Styrofoam) containers, has been voted out of committee and awaits a floor vote.
House Bill 2509, which would ban grocery stores from using plastic bags, has also moved out of committee and awaits a floor vote.