COMMUNITY
A6 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2019
Plastic bag ban sweeps across Oregon starting Jan. 1
If you’re hoping to reduce
your impact on the environ-
ment in 2020, then the Ore-
gon Legislature has a New
Year’s resolution for you.
Starting Jan. 1, Orego-
nians will no longer be able
to receive single-use plas-
tic grocery bags from stores
around the state. Instead,
stores must offer a paper,
as long as it’s made of 40%
recyclable materials, or a
reusable option, for at least
5 cents apiece.
The eradication of sin-
gle-use plastic bags in the
checkout aisle will be an
adjustment for both retailers
and consumers in the region
as both prepare to adhere to
the new law.
“I think this will be some-
thing that evolves,” said
Dave Meade, the owner of
Columbia Harvest Foods in
Umatilla. “It’s something we
have to watch and see what
our customers like best.”
Meade said his store will
offer two non-paper options
for customers who need to
purchase a bag, one that’s a
reusable Harvest Foods bag
Staff photo by Ben Lonergan
Dave Meade, the store manager at Columbia Harvest Foods in Umatilla, stocks reusable bags
on a display on Thursday morning. Meade is trying out several diff erent varieties of reusable
bags, in addition to paper bags, until he is able to determine what plastic bag alternative
customers gravitate toward.
and another reusable plas-
tic option that is provided by
the state.
The bill’s intention is to
reduce the availability and
one-time use of plastic bags,
which often aren’t recycled
and have contributed to the
plastic problem plaguing the
planet.
According to a report
from the Environmental
Protection Agency in 2016,
Americans use over 380 bil-
several years, and as a cor-
poration that’s already dealt
with regulations across the
country and the state, the
transition hasn’t been as
cumbersome.
The law — House Bill
2509 — was passed this past
summer and expands on the
17 local ordinances previ-
ously regulating single-use
plastic bags around the state,
which already impacted
roughly 40% of Oregonians.
The bill joins Oregon
with California, Hawaii and
New York as the only states
to enact statewide bans.
For some retailers in the
region, however, the transi-
tion hasn’t been welcome.
Brandt Koo, owner of the
11th Street Market in Herm-
iston, was concerned ini-
tially when the ban passed
because many of his cus-
tomers walk to and from
the store. While it’s easy to
carry multiple single-use
plastic bags when walking,
Koo hasn’t been able to fi nd
a cheap and reliable option
with handles to replace
them.
“They’re less than worth-
less,” Koo said of paper bag
alternatives.
cery Outlet in Pendleton.
“In the long run, I think
people will see more of the
positives.”
Canale said Grocery Out-
let will have a few options,
including a 15 cent and 99
cent reusable plastic bag
along with a canvas tote bag
for $2.99.
Canale said it will likely
take some time for custom-
ers to develop a habit of
bringing their own bags,
though she noted that about
15% of her customers
already bring their own reus-
able bags and that number
has risen recently. For those
still unaware of it, though,
Canale said they’ll be put-
ting out signs soon and mak-
ing posts on social media to
remind customers.
James Davis, a manager
at the Walmart in Pendle-
ton, said they’ve instructed
cashiers to remind cus-
tomers about the even-
tual change and have put
out signs, though he’s also
noticed more reusable bags
being used and said there’s
already a “general aware-
ness” about the change.
Walmart has already been
offering other options for
By ALEX CASTLE
STAFF WRITER
lion plastic bags or wraps
per year, which requires
12 million barrels of oil to
manufacture.
“I think the new law is
great,” said Jamie Canale,
owner and operator of Gro-
Police, Walmart lend Santa a
hand with toy distribution
Hermiston School District staff
support warming station
HERMISTON HERALD
HERMISTON HERALD
Walmart
Transporta-
tion Division and local law
enforcement teamed up
to help brighten the holi-
day season for kids at chil-
dren’s hospitals and Ronald
McDonald House locations
in the Portland and Seattle
areas.
As part of the effort, toys
were collected Dec. 7-8
at the Hermiston Walmart
store. Offi cer Mike Ellwood
of the Hermiston Police
Department was active in
the project — knowing
fi rsthand the impact of such
acts. His daughter, Jasmine,
was diagnosed with Ewing
sarcoma a couple of years
ago and spent lots of time in
hospital settings.
A local group hit the road
Dec. 13 in Walmart trucks,
police vehicles and passen-
ger cars to make toy deliv-
eries in the Portland area,
including to Randall Chil-
dren’s Hospital at Legacy
Emanuel. Another group
Classifi ed staff in the
Hermiston School District
helped make a difference
for the Hermiston Warming
Station.
The group collected a
variety of items, includ-
ing socks, gloves, cleaning
supplies, hygiene supplies
and snacks. Cathy Keeney,
Oregon School Employees
Association chapter pres-
ident, said the group is a
“strong supporter of our
community” and the annual
Hermiston Warming Station
supply drive is one example
Contributed photo
Diana Allison, secretary
for the Hermiston Oregon
School Employees
Association; Rebecca
Robison, vice president, and
Cathy Keeney, OSEA chapter
president, show off supplies
collected by Hermiston
School District classifi ed
staff for the Hermiston
Warming Station.
Hermiston. For information
about making donations or
ways to help, call 541-289-
2150 or search Facebook.
of how members contribute
to local organizations.
The warming station is
at 1075 S. Highway 395,
Mike Ellwood of the Hermiston Police Department and
Paul Wolverton of the Umatilla County Sheriff ’s Offi ce were
among a local group that delivered toys as part of the
Holiday Toy Drive. The eff ort was held in conjunction with
Walmart Transportation Division to provide gifts to kids in
children’s hospitals and Ronald McDonald Houses.
headed to the Seattle area
on Dec. 18 to do the same.
Ellwood expressed appre-
ciation to everyone who
donated toys for the cause
— which brought smiles
to the faces of numerous
children receiving medical
treatment during the holi-
day season.
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