Poll:
Should plastic bags be banned in Oregon?
SALEM, Ore. -- A plan to ban plastic grocery bags in Oregon is no more.
Senator Mark Hass (D-Beaverton) drafted the bill banning plastic grocery bags. SB 1009 would allow stores to offer only paper and reusable bags for customers.
On Thursday, his office confirmed the bill was dropped from Haas' agenda.
Market of Choice, with stores in Eugene, Ashland, Portland and West Linn, banned the bags, but customers have access to plastic in the produce and meat departments.
Whole Foods also ditched the plastic option last year at all 270 of its stores in the U.S., Canada and United Kingdom.
Portland Mayor Sam Adams earlier bagged an idea to tax paper and plastic bags used by shoppers, citing the current condition of the economy was not the time to add a new tax.
Adams wanted to charge 5 to 20 cents per plastic or paper bag to encourage shoppers to use reusable cloth sacks.
