From the Salem Statesman Journal: Council to allow new food waste recycling service

SB 1009, the bill he co-sponsored with Senator Jason Atkinson, was the underdog story of the special session. At the beginning, it wasn’t on the radar screen of the state’s big environmental groups. But when news of the proposed bag ban broke it grabbed the public’s attention like nothing else the green agenda.

“We just ran out of time,” say Hass. Efforts to reach some kind of agreement with Oregon grocers never came about. In a shortened special session, consensus must come together quickly.

But ban supporters accomplished something important. The debate focused lots of attention on plastic bags and their major contribution to Oregon’s litter problem. “We’ll fight again another day,” says Hass, promising to revive the issue when the legislature returns in early 2011.

Maybe The Timing Was Off

Hass thinks a big reason that Oregon’s grocery stores never got behind the bill is because paper bags are so much more expensive than plastic ones. The leader of a statewide chain told him his company’s costs would rise $10 million per year if the bill passed. “A valid complaint,” says Hass, especially during a recession. There were a few times during negotiations that Hass thought they were close to a deal. “But we just couldn’t turn the corner,” he says.

Today’s defeat gives Hass, Atkinson and other supporters a lot more time to work out differences over the bill. “We’ll be back in 2011 with something,” says Haas, hoping that next time the grocers “will be part of the team.”

Hass says the problems of plastic bag litter reminds him of what motivated Oregonians to approve the nation’s first Bottle Bill in 1971. “We have to solve this. It’s a huge problem in Oregon and no one is doing anything about it.” Hass says that according to SOLV, 12% of the garbage they collect during the statewide beach clean ups are plastic bags.

He says plastic bags are driving up the costs of recycling and quotes information from the recycling industry which says 35% of their operating costs are from plastic bags jamming up the sorting machines.

What Happens Now

While Hass, Atkinson and other supporters in the legislature ponder their next move, Oregon Surfrider thinks smaller efforts to fix the litter problem will take off across the state. The Portland Chapter is trying to drum up support for a 20-cent per bag fee within the city. Surfrider’s Oregon Field Manager Charlie Plybon says he thinks chapters along the coast will start focusing harder on the issue, probably starting with bans on styrofoam.

For more information on what Surfrider is doing:
Portland Chapter: Rise Above Plastics Campaign
Surfrider National: Rise Above Plastics Campaign

Text of Hass’ Statement To The Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee

Over the last two weeks, this legislation has launched a much needed discussion on the scourge of plastic bags on Oregon’s environment and the damage they are doing to Oregon recyclers. This dialogue is more than we would have hoped for and several important facts have come into focus.

1. Plastic bags are an increasing component of litter in Oregon. Today’s problem rivals that of the one that prompted passage of the Bottle Bill in 1971. The Tom McCall founded group, SOLV, says 12 percent of the garbage collected during their beach clean-ups are non-biodegradable plastic bags.

2. Oregon recyclers have been slammed with exploding costs associated with plastic bags. The Association of Oregon Recyclers says 35 percent of operating expenses at material recovery facilities are directly due to plastic bags that jam sorting machines.

3. The plastics industry has chosen a strategy of demonizing paper bags as a way to divert attention from the environmental damage plastic bags have on wildlife, beaches and oceans.

4. The state has no plan to deal with this environmental problem. There is no litter plan. Oregon is losing the war against litter because we are not fighting a war against litter.

It was our hope that we could come up with a statewide solution before local governments move forward with their own plastic bag ordinances.

We’ve already gone through many drafts in an effort to reach consensus here. But it’s clear the clock will run out on us before we can find the magic mix. Without consensus, we cannot move the bill today.

Still, we’re committed to keeping this dialogue going with legislators, people with skin in the game and most of all with Oregon consumers — who are ultimately the critical component in keeping these bags from continuing to pollute Oregon’s rivers, mountainsides and beaches.

The common ground here is that supporters of this legislation as well as opponents agree plastic bags are a huge environmental problem. So let’s use this common ground as the building blocks moving forward. We have time. These bags will be around for a thousand years.

Co-sponsors:
Mark Hass
Jason Atkinson

Plybon says sponsor Senator Mark Hass of Beaverton withdrew the bill this afternoon. He quoted Hass as telling the Environment and Natural Resources Committee there wasn’t enough of a consensus for it.

In Plybon’s words, “It’s sad to see it lose its legs.”

The plastic bag ban was the sleeper bill of the session. It wasn’t given much of a chance of passage until Senate President Peter Courtney indicated he’d be okay with it – if Hass was able to work out differences with groups opposed to the legislation. While I haven’t heard from Hass yet, it appears he wasn’t able to resolve those difference.

Plybon reports that Hass and Chair Jackie Dingfelder pledged to bring the legislation during next year’s session. “We knew it was a long shot,” he says, adding that the debate made “good headway on raising awareness” of the issue.

Meanwhile, Oregon Surfrider remains focused on doing something about getting plastic bags out of the litter stream. The Portland Chapter is calling for a 20-cent fee on all single use plastic bags at stores within the city.

Plybon says he also expects Surfrider chapters along the coast to start similar campaigns in places like Lincoln City and Cannon Beach. He says the initial focus might be on banning styrofoam, which can easily be replaced by products that are more earth friendly and at about the same price.

For more information:

Portland Chapter: Rise Above Plastics Campaign

Surfrider National: Rise Above Plastics Campaign

Both states started nearly identical programs at the beginning of 2009 and reported their yearly results today.

In Oregon, we turned in 18.9 million pounds of leftover computers, monitors and televisions. That’s about five pounds per Oregonian. Washington did even better. Residents recycled 38.5 million pounds of electronics, or nearly six pounds per person.

Both states say the response far exceeded their expectations.

Kathy Kiwala of Oregon DEQ says the agency suspected there might be some pent-up demand in the state. “Given that e-waste is the fastest-growing waste stream in America, coupled with the rate at which people purchase new electronics, it’s not surprising there’s a glut of e-waste just waiting to be recycled,” says Kiwala. She thinks the 2009 switch to digital TV also gave the program a boost as many people got rid of their older analog television sets.

Meanwhile some interesting info-nuggets from each state.

Oregon:

• We recycled roughly 52,000 pounds of computers, monitors and televisions each day
• Have kept nearly 1.2 million pounds of lead out of landfills and incinerators
• Prevented the release of greenhouse gases equivalent to the annual emissions of more than 34,000 cars

Washington:

• 22.3 million pounds of televisions
• 12. 3 million pounds of monitors
• 3.9 million pounds of computers

The E-cycles programs in both states are free to donors, but paid for by the electronics industry.

For more information:

Oregon E-Cycles

E-Cycle Washington

Invasive Species

The Senate approved a bill that creates a system of mobile checkpoints, where vehicles hauling boats and trailers will be stopped and inspected for invasive species. If necessary, the boats and trailers will be disinfected before resuming travel. This bill gives wildlife officials an important tool to keep nasty invaders such as quagga and zebra mussels out of Oregon. House Bill 2220 also increases penalties for people who knowingly transport invasive species.

Status: Goes to Governor Kulongoski for his signature.

Recycling Paint

Leftover paint is the biggest hazardous waste problem for Oregon. But with House Bill 3037 passing the Senate, recycling paint will be easier than ever. It allows the paint industry to create a paint recycling and disposal program. The goal to is establish more places where old paint can be dropped off by consumers and contractors. While many environmental bills are controversial, this one was supported by the paint industry.

Status: Goes to Governor Kulongoski for his signature.

Promoting Energy Efficiency

Oregonians will be getting some help to make their homes and businesses more energy efficient. House Bill 2626 allows us to finance energy efficient improvement with low interest loans. The money has to be repaid through an extra charge in our monthly utility bills. But if we’re using less energy to heat, cool and light our buildings, then the extra charge may not hurt so much. The Senate approved this bill Saturday.

Status: Goes to Governor Kulongoski for his signature.

Educating Our Kids

The last of the four bills approved this weekend is House Bill 2544. It creates the Oregon Environmental Literacy Task Force. The group’s goal will be to create a plan to educate our school kids about the environment, get them outside more often to experience it, and includes professional development for teachers on environmental issues. It’s better known as the “No Child Left Outside” law.

Status: Goes to Governor Kulongoski for his signature.

Grocers want to create a statewide system of redemption centers, so that they don’t have to handle so many bottle returns.  A dispute over which stores would have to accept returns, and how many, was dropped to help the bill pass.

As for the Greenhouse gas legislation, the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee approved it on a 3-2 party line vote.  Senate bill 80 puts into place plans to reduce greenhouse emissions in the state over the next 40 years.  It was forwarded to the Joint Ways and Means Committee, meaning a floor vote is still in doubt.

The bottle bill, House Bill 2184, goes before the House Environment and Water Committee this afternoon.  Katy Daily of the Oregon League of Conservation Voters thinks there’s a good chance it’ll be approved today.  The latest version adds several beverages to the bottle refund list starting in 2013, including sports drinks, coffee, tea, juice and similar non-carbonated beverages.  Meanwhile, Oregonian will have to do a better job of recycling or returning bottles.  If we don’t hit an 80% recycle/return rate in the next few years, the deposit increases to ten cents per bottle.

Odds are improving that the greenhouse gas reduction bill, Senate Bill 80, gets a vote this afternoon.  The latest version includes language that might provide some relief to opponents.  It allows the Public Utility Commission, and utilities, to back away from plans to reduce emissions if the costs are so high they’re not “economically feasible”.   The earlier version used an “extreme economic hardship” standard.

Greenhouse gas reductions:

The big event of the day comes this afternoon when the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee resumes work on a bill to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In Senate Bill 80, utilities and transportation companies have to find ways to reduce emissions and help the state reach the goals agreed upon in the 2007 legislature. Those goals are reducing emissions at least 10% below 1990 levels by 2020, and at least 75% below 1990 levels by 2050. Factories, and other “stationary” sources of greenhouse gas would get a five year break to develop a voluntary program.

Business groups have lobbied hard against the bill, warning that the costs of meeting these goals will hurt the state’s economy and cost jobs. Considering the current economic situation, it’s no surprise that their arguments are getting striking home with legislators. There were more behind the scene talks this week on a possible compromise.

Updating The Bottle Bill:

Environmental groups have been working hard to get House Bill 2184 passed because it adds several new types of beverages to the refund list. The new drinks include sports drinks, coffee, tea and juice. It also raises the bottle deposit from five cents to ten cents if Oregonians don’t return or recycle at least 80% of the bottles they buy. The House Environment and Water Committee works on the bill starting this afternoon at 3pm.

Transportation:

The House Transportation Committee is holding hearings and work sessions all week on House Bill 2001, which will fund transportation for the next two years.  Environmental groups are working to make sure it will include features designed to make it easier for Oregonians to walk, bike and take mass transit.

Among their ideas, making sure Oregon spends more money on “non-highway” construction.  This could include adding bike lanes, walking trails and mass transit projects.  Oregon gets about $46 million in federal “flex money” that could be spent on projects like these.  The enviro groups want to see more of this money going for these purposes.

They also want a section that says the state’s largest metro area planning councils have to start including goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  Transportation is responsible for at least a third of the state greenhouse emissions.  Adding this requirement puts a greater emphasis on plans that include bike paths, high capacity bus lanes and more light transit.  The planning councils would also have to look at ways to create more walkable neighborhoods so that we’re more likely to walk to the grocery store instead of taking the car.

Finally, the environmental groups support an increase in the payroll tax to support mass transit.  This would apply to the state’s largest metro areas only.  But by nudging the tax from .6% to .7% it would increase the amount of money TriMet and other agencies have to spend on basic services.

Meanwhile the Statesman Journal also includes a good article about plans to regulate chemicals in children’s products. One bill would ban BPA and phthalates, while the other gives state officials the power to monitor what’s in products and possibly order safer alternatives to be used. See the full story here.

Crook County gave a big thumbs to Central Oregon’s first wind farm. The West Butte Wind Power Project will be located on about 20 acres of private land just north of Millican. Developers say they plan to build about 34-52 turbines, but most of them won’t be visible from major highways. ODFW officials raised concerns about the project because it’s close to a small population of Sage Grouse. But county officials decided that the $1 million it’ll get in additional property taxes was more important. From the Bend Bulletin.

The amount of material being recycled in Umatilla County is down and the recession is to blame.  Pendleton Sanitary Service tells the East Oregonian that its two largest suppliers of recyclable goods are RV manufacturers.  One of them has shut down operations in the area and the other is operating at a reduced level.  For more information see “Reduce, Reuse, Recession”.