Oregon is proposing the idea of allowing reusable containers in grocery stores and restaurants to help contain our overflow of trash. 

Global warming is a major issue affecting the planet and its inhabitants, and most say that it is due to anthropogenic causes, plastic bags and styrofoam being a big contributor. According to the Center of Biological Diversity, plastic bags make up 40% of waste on earth and that they take 500 years to biodegrade in a landfill. These plastic bags and containers are also such a large problem because of their lightweight and the tendency for them to get picked up in the wind and transported miles away from where they originated. 

After China’s decision to stop taking America’s trash, single use plastic have become even more of a pressing issue. They are harmful to sea life, especially sea turtles, whom mistake them for jellyfish and try to consume them and then suffocate. 

“I think it’s great that Oregon is making strides to help the earth,” said senior Maggie Enquist, “I think that the reusable containers could really be something.” 

According to KOMO News, the threat is in the sanitation aspect of bringing items from your own home and using them to contain things back in the kitchen, the real worry is with cross contamination. Another issue with containers varying between each person would be that the net weight of the food that person would be eating would be in measurable. 

“I personally think it’s a great idea,” said Ted Droppleman, “my parents already use their own bags for fruit at the grocery store.”

According to The United Nations, there are only eleven years left for humanity to try to reverse climate change, so we must act fast. I think that this stride by Oregon is amazing, the use of single use plastics need to end and we need to start thinking of the future sooner, rather than later.