Two new laws that recently took effect were having a big impact on La Salle students and staff, at least before the coronavirus changed everything.

As of Oct. 1, all Portland businesses are not allowed to give out plastic straws and other utensils unless specifically asked for by the customer. 

Alongside the new regulations, as of Jan. 1, Oregon stores and restaurants can no longer use single use plastic bags and must charge at least five cents per paper bag given out.

So what does this all mean? 

Customers have the option to bring their own reusable bag to stores, or pay the fee for paper or a reusable plastic bag. In addition, some people have started to bring their own reusable straws to use when purchasing drinks. This is a method to prevent single use plastic and increase the use of reusable resources.

These laws have made big changes in our community. Prior to the recent COVID-19 outbreak, The Falconer asked students and staff to share their perspective on these new regulations.

In what ways has the ban on plastic straws impacted your everyday life?

“The ban on plastic straws has not affected me, because I usually reuse plastic straws in the first place. Plastic just adds up, so during the summer when I first started drinking Dutch Bros and Starbucks, I bought myself portable metal straws.” 

– freshman Sidney Lefranc

“I get less straws I guess… and I have to ask for a straw or they gave me a paper straw… and effectively it’s done the same thing.” 

– junior Gavin Sunderland

“We didn’t really think about it that much and now not having them, it seems like it’s such a big difference now. I honestly think it hasn’t really impacted me negatively at all, I’m fine with it. My mom and I keep reusable straws in our car and if we really do need a straw… then we’ll use one of those.”

– senior Hattie Kirby

“I think [the ban on plastic straws has] been actually really helpful because I see a lot more people using paper straws, and I used to have to pick plastic straws out of the gutters by my house whenever there would be massive rain storms and the gutters would get clogged… So that’s making my life easier.” 

– senior William Hamilton

“Whenever I go to Dutch or Starbucks, they ask me if I want a straw… I don’t mind using Starbucks sippy cups, but Dutch’s are weird and they just don’t work right. I don’t know. Before they were banned it’s just like an instinct [to take a straw]… but now it’s different.”

– senior Isabel Van Vleet

“Not in a huge way, but I do appreciate plastic straws only for the reason that I reuse them about 4 or 5 years worth, and then I cut them up and dispose of them…but I do have a ton of paper straws and that’s what I give my grandkids because they chew them up.” 

– attendance secretary Ms. Judi Powell

“I just don’t have a super strong opinion. I think it’s probably the right call… I don’t get drinks at places where I need a plastic straw so I don’t use them very often… I do have a … metal straw that folds up and I keep it in a little carrying case and that’s what I use if I do need a straw.” 

– religious studies and Spanish teacher Mr. Noah Banks

Have you changed any of your lifestyle habits to adapt to the ban on plastic straws?

“I have not had to change any lifestyle habits because I already live a zero single use plastic life.” 

– freshman Sidney Lefranc

“Since they only give you paper straws… yeah. But have I gone out of my way to not use straws?… no.” 

– junior Gavin Sunderland

“Yeah… we didn’t use reusable straws before, and if we did they were silly straws…and now we have a drawer full of them now and we definitely don’t leave the house without them” 

– senior Hattie Kirby

“I don’t normally go to any businesses where people would [ask if you would] like plastic straw [or] paper straw, but back when I did, I would always ask for paper straw and now I find it far easier… At first it was like it tastes kind of funny cause it’s paper and not plastic but I’ve gotten used to it.”

 – senior William Hamilton

“I’ve used [plastic straws] occasionally but I used to use them religiously.” 

– senior Isabel Van Vleet

“I was never really using straws a couple years ago, I got metal straws for smoothies I make at home, so that’s really the only time I was using straws, and I already had reusable and washable ones for that.” 

– health teacher Ms. Caitlin Hudson 

“No, I just always took them anyway. I took them and reused them. I never threw them away.” 

–  attendance secretary Ms. Judi Powell

What are your thoughts on the new ways that companies have tried to reduce the amount of plastic consumption? For example, paper straws and the new lids that don’t need straws?

“I personally like paper straws. I think they feel better and they’re a lot cuter and better for the environment than plastic straws… I think sipping cup lids are a step in the right direction. It’s still plastic but it’s recyclable and that’s better than non-recyclable. The biggest problem is that kids aren’t recycling recyclable cups and lids after they use them.” 

– freshman Sidney Lefranc

“I don’t know why people [need to] use straws. I guess paper straws are fine but I don’t really realize the need for straws.” 

– freshman Shae McNaughton. 

“I think as long as [the paper straws] work, then I think that they’re a good fit… [I’ve] only [had to use them] a couple times and I haven’t had any major problems yet… [for] iced coffee they work pretty well, but for a frappuccino or a blended drink, I don’t really think they work.” 

– sophomore Remson Winant 

“I personally don’t like them just because they… disintegrate super fast, but I do think I’d rather do that then have plastic straws that don’t decompose… I think [the new lids that don’t need a straw] are fine. I don’t see any problems with them. I do wonder if it’s more expensive for them to manufacture… [and] if that will raise prices for drinks.” 

– senior Hattie Kirby

“I don’t mind [paper straws]. You can buy all kinds of pretty ones… I don’t drink coffee and I don’t go to Starbucks, so I’ve never had [a sippy cup lid].”

–  attendance secretary Ms. Judi Powell

“I think they suck. I don’t like that they get kinda soggy after not too long and I also don’t like… that there’s more friction when we use a paper straw and it doesn’t give you the satisfaction of a plastic straw. I think a metal straw matches pretty well.” 

– religious studies and Spanish teacher Mr. Noah Banks

Are you in favor of the ban on plastic straws or are you against it?

“I am 100% for the plastic straw ban because it may stop people from constantly using single use plastic straws. One thing I do is bring a plastic straw around with me from the time that I forgot my metal straw so that I don’t have to ask for a new one. Also if I ever forget to bring my own straw I take the used straw home and wash it so I can use it on several other occasions to fight the buying of more plastic straws.” 

– freshman Sidney Lefranc 

“I am in favor of it… because I think in any way we can reduce our plastic and our single plastic use things like straws… it’s a better thing.” 

– sophomore Audrey Wersch

“I’m in favor of it because I feel like even though it doesn’t affect me, it still affects wildlife so anything that we can do to help.” 

– sophomore Julia Kwiecinski

“I think that mostly it’s unnecessary. There’s things that could be regulated that could be far more effective, and if anything it’s mostly just inconvenienced people in very small ways.” 

– junior Gavin Sunderland

“I think overall I’m in favor, although I think sometimes…  it also raises questions for me, like I think sometimes it’s easier to make these small bans and at the end of the day, everything that is shipped on a pallet is wrapped in saran wrap and businesses who operate on giant scales aren’t being made to change things… I just always wish there was more on the things that have a bigger impact than the things that consumers do, the things businesses do. Businesses and corporations on a large scale are way more wasteful and I don’t really see a lot of restrictions being put on that.” 

– health teacher Ms. Caitlin Hudson

“I’m basically in support of it… I think it’s probably more effective to just ban [plastic straws] then to tax it like they are taxing plastic bags.”

-religious studies and Spanish teacher Mr. Noah Banks

What are your thoughts and feelings on the new laws on plastic bags?

“I always bring a tote or cloth shopping bag, so the plastic bag ban has not affected my family in any way; in fact, I’ve started making my own totes.” 

-freshman Sidney Lefranc

“I don’t think you should pay for paper bags, but plastic bags get everywhere [in the environment] so I get why they banned them.” 

-freshman Dayne Lavoie

“I think that’s a little bit harder to adapt to but I think if we get into a habit of keeping reusable bags with us then I don’t think it should be too bad… I mean there’s some times when we don’t have our reusable bags on us… I mean, it has affected me, but not hugely.” 

-sophomore Audrey Wersch

“Yes, I’ve had to work harder to make sure I put a bag in my car when we go shopping anywhere, not just grocery stores… I usually try and bring a reusable bag.”

-sophomore Julia Kwiecinski

“So I just … went to the store three times since and it’s not really a problem for me because I know if I’m going to the store, I’m going to be spending money anyways and 5 cents for a bag is not that big of a deal and also my mom stocks the cars with… reusable bags so we always have them with us… I dont think it’s that big of a deal.” 

-senior Hattie Kirby

“I don’t know, it’s interesting. I feel… if you use a paper bag they charge you too, which I don’t know if they should do for paper as much, definitely plastic. But it will definitely get more people to bring reusable bags to stores.” 

-senior Isabel Van Vleet

“Besides being a little bit confusing, I think it’s great. I’ve only had to buy one bag but I take my own bags in with me… I think it’s great and people got to get over themselves and we need to take care of our baby earth… I’ve had enough plastic bags kind of stored away that I used for garbage sometimes.” 

-attendance secretary Ms. Judi Powell

“I think it’s good to reduce our use of single use plastic… but I’m not sure that our current solution is the right way either… getting some reusable bags that are good and sustainable would probably be the best call.” 

-religious studies and Spanish teacher Mr. Noah Banks

As is clear from these responses, many people of the La Salle community have made adjustments due to these new laws. In result, people are using more reusable bags, finding new ways to recycle plastic straws, and discovering how to work their lives around these new bans. 

For further information, these websites provide more insight on the plastic straws and plastic bags regulations in our city and state. 

https://beta.portland.gov/bps/garbage-recycling/single-use-plastics-reduction-policy

https://www.oregon.gov/deq/mm/production/Pages/Bags.aspx