PORTLAND, Ore. - City Commissioner Sam Adams said it's time to get rid of plastic bags littering the streets and causing harm to the environment.
Adams said a ban on non-renewable plastic bags passed in San Francisco last week could set the stage for Portland to do the same.
He is seeking comments from the public on the issue.
The vast majority of plastic bags used in grocery stores are made from petroleum. The commissioner's office said research shows just 14 bags contain enough energy to power a car for a mile.
Several countries around the world already ban petroleum-based bags, including Taiwan and Bangladesh.
Adams said he prefers using a canvas bag because they are cheap and sturdy.
But he believes biodegradable bags are the next best thing. They look the same as any other, except they are made from corn and are a bit thinner.
"I'm putting a lot of pressure on this, and it's holding up just fine," Adams said, as he punched his fist into a biodegradable bag produced by Portland-based Trellis Earth Products. "The quality is getting to the point now where it's reaching the comparable levels with the plastic bag."
The Daily Grind on Hawthorne Boulevard is one of the first grocery stores in Portland giving biodegradable bags a try.
"We're very conscious about what goes back into the earth," said Vivian Jones, the store's general manager.
She said a ban is the moral way to go - and her customers love having an earth-friendly option.
"I would like to see (stores) move away from using the petroleum bags and go to something that is biodegradable," she said. "Granted, it does cost a bit more, but it's well worth it."
Some shoppers think Adams' idea is a good one.
"I think it's becoming necessary. You see all the litter all over the place," said Portland consumer Tom Tone.
Other contend the bags we use now are convenient.
"I use it to put my garbage in and I think a lot of other people do too," said Norman Watanabe, who opposes a ban. "Sure, it's nice to (outlaw the plastic bags), but it's going to cost us more, and I just like the way things are."
One of the few companies in the world that produces biodegradable plastic bags is Portland-based Trellis Earth Products. News reports indicate it costs six cents to make each bag from corn, compared to one penny to make the ones more commonly used in stores.
Commissioner Adams said if more cities are willing to ban petroleum-based bags, demand for sustainable products will go up, and the cost will go down.
