Eugene could become the tenth and latest Northwest city to pass an ordinance restricting single-use plastic bags in grocery stores.
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EUGENE, Ore. — Eugene might become the third Oregon city to ban plastic bags, but environmentalists hope to eventually get rid of the paper ones, too.
Sarah Higginbotham of Environment Oregon said her No. 1 goal is to get people to use reusable bags.
She and representatives from other environmental groups spoke at a press conference Monday evening before the City Council held a public hearing on the proposed plastic-bag ban.
Ashley Miller of the Oregon League of Conservation Voters and other activists say thin, single-use plastic bags should be banned because many of them end up in the ocean and waterways, killing wildlife.
The Register-Guard reports that Eugene’s proposed ban would allow stores to charge customers 5 cents for a paper bag.
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