New Laws in U.S. State of Oregon Prohibit Plastic Foam and Enable Refill Systems - Oceana

Victory | May 8, 2023

New Laws in U.S. State of Oregon Prohibit Plastic Foam and Enable Refill Systems

Following campaigning by Oceana and our allies, the U.S. State of Oregon passed two new laws to combat the plastic pollution crisis. The first law phases out polystyrene foam foodware, packing peanuts, and coolers. Plastic foam is not accepted in curbside recycling and is one of the top items found polluting Oregon’s beaches. This type of plastic often breaks up into smaller pieces, disperses easily, and can persist in the environment for centuries. This law will also ban PFAS, nicknamed “forever chemicals,” from food packaging because they accumulate in the environment and pose a threat to human health. The second law requires the state’s health code to enable restaurants to use reusable containers to serve their customers.