Oregon Beyond the Bag Ban

Surfrider Foundation is worked closely with our plastic pollution coalition in Oregon to advance a number of key policies in 2025 to reduce plastic pollution. The Beyond the Bag Ban campaign was a statewide legislative campaign, (SB 551) sponsored by Senator Janeen Sollman, that aimed to expand Oregon's bag ban. Surfrider was closely involved in all aspects of this legislative effort from supporting drafting and working with industry stakeholder's on the bill's language to conducting extensive public and legislative outreach, testifying and advocating throughout the bill's entire process. 

Though the updated bag ban will be an effective deterrent to plastic waste in Oregon, the bill in its original form would have addressed the issue even more comprehensively. Provisions that would have required single-use plastic toiletries at lodging establishments to be available only upon request, as well as adding plastic utensils and condiments to Oregon’s existing “straws upon request” laws, were removed in the Oregon House. 

"It's a shame that some individuals in the House couldn't support the 'ask first' portions of the bill, which really only stand to save businesses money and provide them and their customers with more freedom and choice to cut waste," said Charlie Plybon, Oregon sr. policy manager for the Surfrider Foundation. "But we're excited that the most substantive part of this bill – saying goodbye to those thicker plastic checkout bags – was enthusiastically supported and retained."

Read more on this campaign here.