Tri-County Hazardous Waste & Recycling Program

Shopping Bags : Ban Plastic Bags?

Sun, 15 Aug 2010 15:59:35 +0000

Author: Colleen
Subject: Ban Plastic Bags?
Posted: 15 Aug 2010 at 3:59pm

I would love to see all single use bags of any material banned. In it's place, have retailers sell reusable bags at cost to customers. Low income folks and people on food stamps could be given their first bags free. If shoppers forget their bags, they will have to buy more. Soon it will become second nature to bring your own bag, just as it is for me.
Not bringing reusable bags for shopping, has just become a bad habit for most people. They just need to replace a bad habit with a good one.
The bag problem should not be this difficult to solve.
Colleen ODonnell

Shopping Bags : Ban Plastic Bags?

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 15:45:27 +0000

Author: admin
Subject: Ban Plastic Bags?
Posted: 06 Aug 2010 at 3:45pm

Here we are posting some correspondence from:
Brock Howell
State Policy Advocate
Environment Oregon

Brock says:

"...I have exciting news. Just this morning, Portland City Council passed a resolution to ban plastic bags by January 2012! This is a major first step in passing statewide plastic bag legislation to clean up our oceans.

Now we’re bringing the same energy to Hood River. Environment Oregon’s intern Emma Newman (emma.newman@gmail.com) is organizing a roundtable discussion with supportive businesses and other leaders and residents at the Springhouse Cellar Winery on August 4. At the roundtable I will discuss the problem of plastic bags as well as our campaign strategy, and then we will hammer-out how to build the necessary support to pass a local resolution.

I’d love for you to come. The roundtable will be Wednesday, August 4, at 6:30 p.m. at the Springhouse Cellar Winery (13 Railroad Ave., Hood River).

Thanks for all the support! I look forward to hearing from you soon."

Brock Howell
State Policy Advocate
Environment Oregon
1536 SE 11th Avenue, Suite B
Portland, Oregon 97214
Cell: (503) 421-9936
Email: Brock@EnvironmentOregon.org
Facebook: http://facebook.com/enviroregon
Twitter: http://twitter/enviroregon

Shopping Bags : Ban Plastic Bags?

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 04:57:31 +0000

Author: bagsoutlet
Subject: Ban Plastic Bags?
Posted: 03 Aug 2010 at 4:57am

Hi,

You are right dud. but now a days women prefer to carry everything they can in the handbag which accompanies them everywhere. In a situation like that what a small clutch would say about a woman. Most women really chooses Louis Vuitton Bags .

Shopping Bags : Ban Plastic Bags?

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 17:01:24 +0000

Author: admin
Subject: Ban Plastic Bags?
Posted: 13 Jul 2010 at 5:01pm

Oregon lawmakers in 2011 may ban plastic bags, charge for paper bags in 2012
Published: Monday, July 12, 2010, 9:00 PM

State lawmakers have quietly forged a deal to outlaw disposable plastic bags throughout Oregon starting in 2012.

Proposed legislation calls for all retailers, ranging from Nordstrom to Fred Meyer, to prohibit plastic bags at checkout and to charge 5 cents for every paper bag. Retailers would keep the money.

The legislation, which may not clear the 2011 session, has the backing of a quartet of urban and rural legislators led by state Sen. Mark Hass, D-Beaverton, and Sen. Jason Atkinson, R-Central Point. The two introduced a bill to ban plastic bags during February's special session, knowing it probably would not clear 90 lawmakers in such a short period.

"The theory is this should be a statewide solution as opposed to a crazy quilt of Portland, Corvallis and Tigard doing different things," said Hass, who received a draft of the proposed legislation Friday.

In Portland, Mayor Sam Adams has been working on a plan to reduce disposable bag use for three years. In 2008, as a city commissioner, he floated the idea of charging a fee on plastic bags but dropped it last year, citing the recession. Members of a "Ban the Bag" coalition plan to hold a rally at City Hall on Wednesday to pressure city leaders to take another run at the issue.

Bag bans and fees
California: Could be the first state to ban plastic bags if Assembly Bill 1998 clears the state Senate. The bill also requires retailers to charge at least a nickel per paper bag. Applies to chain supermarkets and pharmacies in 2012; extends to convenience stores, liquor stores and smaller shops in July 2013.
San Francisco: Banned plastic bags in large chain stores in 2007. Other California cities to ban the bags include Malibu, Palo Alto and Fairfax.
North Carolina: Extended a ban affecting only large chain stores to all plastic bags in the Outer Banks.
Washington, D.C.: Started charging a nickel for every single-use bag, plastic and paper, in January.
Seattle: Imposed a 20-cent grocery bag fee in 2008. Opponents put the issue to voters, who thumped it in August 2009.
Furniture retailer Ikea: Banned disposable bags in October 2008, offering only reusable bags for 59 cents at checkout.
Hass and Atkinson, meanwhile, may have public opinion on their side. The California State Assembly is considering what would be the first statewide ban on plastic bags. About a dozen U.S. cities have adopted prohibitions, following San Francisco's lead in 2007.

Foes say the thin plastic bags clog drains, and wind up in landfills and waterways, where they harm marine life. About 100 billion petroleum-based plastic bags are used each year in the United States, according to environmental groups.

Opponents, most notably the American Chemistry Council, which represents 80 percent of the country's plastic bag production, say plastic bags can be kept out of the waste stream if consumers take time to return them to stores for recycling.

"Over the last couple of years, you've seen an uptick in people using reusable bags, but at the same time, we've seen an uptick in the amount of (plastic) material being recycled," said Tim Shestek, the council's director of state affairs. "Both can happen."

Stephen Joseph, counsel to the Save the Plastic Bag Coalition, based in San Francisco, essentially says bag haters are full of hot air. He says arguments that plastic clogs oceans or kills animals are simply not true. His group has successfully challenged several California cities in court, keeping them from adopting broad bans.

"If litter is the reason for banning something, you have to ban everything that's in the litter stream, starting with cigarette butts," he said.

In Portland, the local chapter of the nonprofit Surfrider Foundation plans to rally at City Hall to urge city commissioners to lead the way on disposable bags.

"Our interest is seeing the city of Portland move forward first," said Pete Stauffer of Surfrider. "We hope the state is going to take this on in the next session, but we think there is a good opportunity for the city to move forward on this."

Adams declined to talk about the issue Monday, saying he didn't know what he would propose yet. He met with some city commissioners Monday, according to their public calendars, as well as with Joe Gilliam, president of the Northwest Grocery Association.

Gilliam did not return several phone calls Monday. But his brother, state Rep. Vic Gilliam, R-Silverton, is a sponsor of the new legislation, and he said he appreciates that Hass is working with grocers on a solution.

"I am not speaking for all of Oregon, but I think it's worth public hearing, public input, and let's just see if Oregonians will say, 'This is a nice approach,'" Vic Gilliam said.

Hass said he's worked with grocers, environmentalists and other stakeholders since February. He hands out reusable canvas bags. The response?

"By the way, I love the bag thing," he says people tell him. "Keep going with that."

One option for Portland would be to approve an ordinance now saying it will adopt a city bag ban in 2012 if the state doesn't pass legislation in 2011.

Atkinson said he would be OK with a city proposal that gives the state room to take a stab at the issue. And who knows, he said, there's no guarantee lawmakers will approve a law to curb disposable bag use at a time when school funding and budgets will dominate as more critical topics.

"Most good pieces of environmental legislation take a session or two, and that's what Mark and I have talked about this time," he said.

State legislation would not affect restaurants, Hass said. In its current form, the proposal does not exempt smaller retailers, although that could change.

Melinda Merrill, spokeswoman for Fred Meyer, said it would be hard for stores if cities issued different rules.

"Sen. Hass has worked really hard on finding the right balance for all of us," she said. "It'd be great if we could all focus on that and get it done first thing in January. I'd love to see a statewide approach."

-- Janie Har

Shopping Bags : Ban Plastic Bags?

Fri, 02 Jul 2010 17:11:53 +0000

Author: admin
Subject: Ban Plastic Bags?
Posted: 02 Jul 2010 at 5:11pm

Theresa North said:
"..If the switch was to the European model of charging for every bag provided by the store, paper or plastic, then we would see an increased use of reusable bags. I would rather see us pursue that than just banning plastic bags."
Theresa

Collection Events : 2010 haz waste collection event schedule

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 11:26:07 +0000

Author: admin
Subject: 2010 haz waste collection event schedule
Posted: 29 Jun 2010 at 11:26am

TriCounty Hazardous Waste & Recycling Program
2010 schedule for hazardous waste collections

Business (CEG) and Household (3rd Fri-Sat of each month) ---    24 events
Hood River     January 15          Friday          9am-2pm     Hood River Garbage Service
The Dalles     January 16          Saturday     9am-2pm     The Dalles Disposal Service
Hood River     February 19          Friday          9am-2pm     Hood River Garbage Service
The Dalles     February 20          Saturday     9am-2pm     The Dalles Disposal Service Hood River     March 19          Friday          9am-2pm     Hood River Garbage Service
The Dalles     March 20          Saturday     9am-2pm     The Dalles Disposal Service
Hood River     April 16               Friday          9am-2pm     Hood River Garbage Service
The Dalles     April 17               Saturday     9am-2pm     The Dalles Disposal Service
Hood River     May 14               Friday          9am-2pm     Hood River Garbage Service
The Dalles     May 15               Saturday     9am-2pm     The Dalles Disposal Service
Hood River     June 18               Friday          9am-2pm     Hood River Garbage Service
The Dalles     June 19               Saturday     9am-2pm     The Dalles Disposal Service
Hood River     July 16               Friday          9am-2pm     Hood River Garbage Service
The Dalles     July 17               Saturday     9am-2pm     The Dalles Disposal Service
Hood River     August 20          Friday          9am-2pm     Hood River Garbage Service
The Dalles     August 21          Saturday     9am-2pm     The Dalles Disposal Service
Hood River     September 17           Friday          9am-2pm     Hood River Garbage Service
The Dalles     September 18          Saturday     9am-2pm     The Dalles Disposal Service
Hood River     October 15          Friday          9am-2pm     Hood River Garbage Service
The Dalles     October 16          Saturday     9am-2pm     The Dalles Disposal Service
Hood River     November 19          Friday          9am-2pm     Hood River Garbage Service
The Dalles     November 20          Saturday     9am-2pm     The Dalles Disposal Service
Hood River     December 17          Friday          9am-2pm     Hood River Garbage Service
The Dalles     December 18          Saturday     9am-2pm     The Dalles Disposal Service

Rural Household collection events ---    9 events
Parkdale     April 3               Saturday     10am-2pm     Fire District, 4895 Baseline Dr
Maupin          April 24               Saturday     10am-2pm     Public Works, 390 3rd St
Dufur          May 22                Saturday     10am-2pm     City Park (Comm. Cleanup)
Moro          May 8               Saturday     1pm-3pm     Road Dept, 4th & Hood St
Tygh Valley     June 26               Saturday     10am-2pm     Mel’s Sanitary Service Inc
Odell          September 11          Saturday     10am-2pm     Mid-Valley Mkt,3380 Odell Hwy
Cascade Locks     September 25          Saturday     10am-2pm     WW Plant, 105 Herman Cr Ln
Tygh Valley     October 9          Saturday     10am-2pm     Mel’s Sanitary Service Inc
Mosier          October 23          Saturday     10am-2pm     Mosier Community School

Agricultural collection events ---   5 events
February 25          Thursday     9am-2pm     Hood River Garbage Service
February 26          Friday          9am-2pm     The Dalles Disposal Service
May 8               Saturday     10am-12pm     Moro, Road Dept 4th & Hood St
November 9          Thursday     9am-2pm     Hood River Garbage Service
November 10          Friday           9am-2pm     The Dalles Disposal Service

Shopping Bags : Ban Plastic Bags?

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 11:19:16 +0000

Author: admin
Subject: Ban Plastic Bags?
Posted: 29 Jun 2010 at 11:19am

There has been a lot of interest in banning plastic shopping bags throughout Oregon. Looking deeper into this issue, we were surprised to find it more complicated than expected, when considering the unintended consequences of switching to alternatives of single-use plastic shopping bags. So to get the conversation going, we asked senior policy analyst David Allaway at Oregon DEQ for advice. Here is his reply:

"...Probably the single best/most accessible information source is this report http://www.greencitiescalifornia.org/mea commissioned by Green Cities California. It reviews the LCA (Life Cycle Analysis)literature on bags and concludes that paper and conventional plastic each offer advantages and disadvantages relative to each other, and that conventional biodegradable bags come in a distant last. The clear “winner” are reusable bags (assuming that they are reused multiple times).
The report is silent on ocean acidity – which makes we wonder if the authors missed that connection – but does indicate that the single-use plastic bags have lower GHG (Green House Gas)impacts than single-use paper bags. The connection between GHG emissions and ocean acidity is well documented elsewhere – I assume you can find this information but let me know if you need any help. Of course, while marine litter and ocean acidity are both cause for concern, single-use bags are a larger contributor to the former, and a smaller (although not necessarily insignificant) contributor to the latter. Mind you, I used this example at the AOR Conference to illustrate the difference between “midpoints” and “endpoints” in LCAs. “Litter” and “global warming” are both treated as midpoints (how much litter, how much CO2). The LCA literature typically doesn’t extend these measures into “endpoints” (for example, how many marine organisms die as a consequence of marine plastics vs. ocean acidification).
DEQ’s position on this topic is that we support a ban on plastic bags, and that simply banning plastic bags is not the ideal response, because the resulting shift to single-use paper bags may increase environmental impacts in many important areas (according to the Green Cities California report, these include global warming, acidification, criteria air pollutants, ground level ozone, water consumption, and fossil fuel consumption).

A better solution, and one that is consistent with existing state solid waste policy, would be to reduce the use of all single-use bags, paper and plastic. This might be accomplished through a bag fee (which could be legislated or voluntarily imposed), a combination of a fee (paper) and ban (plastic), a ban on all single-use bags, or voluntary initiatives by retailers.
Hope this helps.

Best,
David Allaway
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
Solid Waste Policy & Program Development
811 S.W. Sixth Avenue
Portland, OR 97204
phone: (503) 229-5479
fax: (503) 229-6977
Toll Free in Oregon: 1-800-452-4011
Oregon Telecommunications Relay Service: 1-800-735-2900

Edited by admin - 29 Jun 2010 at 11:37am

Bottle Bill Expansion : Bottle Bill

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 23:09:25 +0000

Author: admin
Subject: Bottle Bill
Posted: 28 Apr 2009 at 11:09pm

Oregon’s bottle bill expansion went into effect on January 1, 2009;the state added water and flavored water bottles to the list ofcontainers that can be redeemed for a nickel deposit. So start checkingthe label on your water bottles and flavored water; if it says OR 5cents, then bring it in for the deposit.

Another change in the bottle bill is that grocery stores and otherretailers of 5000 square feet or more must accept containers of anybrand or size, including those brands and types not sold at theirstore. Stores may, however, place limits on the number of returns perperson per day: 50 can/bottles per person per visit for smaller stores,and 144 for larger retailers. Be patient with retail stores as theymake changes to accommodate the increased numbers of recyclablecontainers they are now receiving.

Always remember to recycle your containers; keep them out of thelandfill! If you aren’t inclined to return them for the deposit, putthem in with your co-mingled recycling at local depots.