Oregon votes to ban restaurants from offering plastic straws

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Oregon will ban restaurants from offering single-use plastic straws unless requested under a measure on its way to the governor.

The House voted 48-12 late Wednesday night to pass Senate Bill 890, which prohibits restaurants from providing single-use plastic straws unless a customer asks. Drive-thrus could still offer straws.

Although the Senate already approved the measure, the chamber must still approve a technical change before the bill hits Gov. Kate Brown’s desk.

The World Economic Forum projects that there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050. Over 8 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean each year, though plastic straws make up less than one percent of ocean waste.

Oregon would become the second in the nation after California to enact statewide restrictions on plastic straws. The state is also weighing bans on single-use plastic bags and Styrofoam takeout containers.