Oregon polystyrene takeout container ban passes House

(Update: Bill passes on second vote)

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – The Oregon House has moved forward with a ban on foam takeout containers, just one day after voting it down.

Lawmakers voted 32-28 Tuesday to prohibit restaurants from providing containers made from polystyrene, commonly known as Styrofoam.

The measure now goes to the Senate.

The proposal had failed by a 29-29 tie vote on Monday — this session’s first bill rejection on the House floor – after opponents argued that restaurants will replace the Styrofoam containers with products that do even more harm to the environment.

They also said Styrofoam is recyclable and note that one Oregon company will recycle the to-go containers customers drop off.

Major cities including New York, Los Angeles and Seattle already have such bans in place. A Maryland bill prohibiting the containers is awaiting the governor’s signature.

The Statesman Journal reports Rep. Sheri Schouten, a Democrat from Beaverton and the bill’s chief sponsor, said these plastics break apart easily and stay in the environment as tiny particles that find their way into rivers and ultimately into the ocean.

Opponents said a Tigard company, Agilyx, has begun recycling polystyrene dropped off by consumers.

They said banning polystyrene would just encourage restaurants to use other plastics that are less recyclable.