Globally, 33 billion pounds of plastic enter the marine environment every year, devastating the world’s oceans. Plastic does not go away, instead it breaks up into smaller pieces that can be mistaken for food by marine life, often with dire consequences.

Expanded polystyrene, often known as StyrofoamTM, is a form of foamed plastic commonly used for food containers and packaging. This disposable packaging is usually thrown away after a single use and often falls apart easily into smaller pieces that are hard to clean up and can persist in the environment indefinitely. Plastic foam is frequently among the 10 most commonly picked up items at beach cleanups. 

Expanded polystyrene is not accepted in curbside recycling and is not easily recycled. We simply cannot recycle our way out of the plastic crisis — only about nine percent of all plastic ever produced has been recycled. 

Portland, Ashland, Eugene, Lincoln City, and Medford have already passed similar ordinances prohibiting polystyrene in food service, and now it’s time for our state legislature to act.

And there’s no time to lose. Without immediate changes to the way we use plastics the total amount of plastic waste generated is expected to double in the next five years.

By passing the Foam Free Oregon Bill (currently HB 2617), Oregon can lead the way in drastically reducing the production and use of harmful and wasteful single-use foodware and ensure we transition towards more sustainable alternatives for the betterment of our environment and our communities.