Loam not Foam - Oregon Schools Polystyrene Ban

Students from across Oregon are fired up this legislative session for HB 2762, a bill which requires school districts to eliminate use of polystyrene foam plates, trays and other food containers in school meal service. Initiated by students, this is an awesome aim to remove some of the worst and least recyclable trash from our waste stream, rising above plastics before they enter our marine environment. Polystyrene is one of the largest sources of marine litter worldwide and responsible for excretion of benzene into the food it comes in contact with, threatening more than just our environment but our own health. Portland was ahead of the game, banning it’s use in the food service industry in 1989, but alas our schools across the state, still throw away thousands of pounds a day of what the Environmental Protection Agency reports as the 5th highest source of hazardous waste in the world.

The bill started through early and constant outreach from a group of students from Sunnyside Environmental School. Through ongoing outreach prior to the legislative session, the students were able to catch the ear and engagement of Representative Nosse, who helped to draft and led sponsorship of the bill (HB 2762) this session. It just so happened that our newly established Surfrider Bandon Youth Club, were at the same time working on Loam Not Foam campaign at Bandon High School, an effort aimed at eliminating polystyrene within their school. Through some additional organizing and outreach, the students were able to join Sunnyside students, scaling their campaign to support the bill and even visiting the Capitol to testify and meet with their local Senator.

And after excellent testimony and advocacy throughout the legislative session, HB 2762 successfully passed both the House and Senate in the state legislature and was signed into law by Governor Brown on June 16, 2015!