Salem may ban plastic shopping bags soon

(OCTOBER 27, 2018) Plastic shopping bags might be banned soon in Salem. The city council will vote on November 13. Businesses will need to change their bags in 2019.

Some types of bags will be OK. Reusable bags and recyclable paper bags, for example, are not part of the law. Also, bags used inside the store are still allowed. This means bags to carry things like fruit and vegetables are still OK, says Kenny Larson of the city of Salem.

Some citizens like the ban. They say it will help the environment. Paper bags are easier to recycle than plastic bags.

Other citizens do not like the ban. Paper bags are more expensive. People are worried about having to pay for paper bags.

Portland, Corvallis, and Eugene already have bans on plastic bags.

Sources:
Associated Press. “Plastic Bag Ban in Salem Draws Warning from Grocers.” OregonLive.com, OregonLive.com, 8 Aug. 2018, www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2018/08/plastic_bag_ban_in_salem_draws.html.
Bach, Jonathan. “Salem City Council Poised To Ban Plastic Shopping Bags, Give Businesses Time To Adapt.” Oregon Public Broadcasting, Statesman Journal, 24 Oct. 2018, www.opb.org/news/article/salem-oregon-plastic-shopping-bag-ban-plan/.
Bach, Jonathan. “Salem City Council Poised to Ban Plastic Shopping Bags, Give Businesses Time to Adapt.” Statesman Journal, Salem Statesman Journal, 23 Oct. 2018, www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/2018/10/22/salem-city-council-poised-ban-plastic-shopping-bags/1731708002/.
“Time for Salem to 'Bag It Better'.” Salem Weekly News, 22 Dec. 2017, salemweeklynews.com/time-salem-bag-better/
Image is public domain.

"ESOL News Oregon by Timothy Krause is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.