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Policy overview
Businesses in Portland cannot automatically include plastic straws, stirrers, utensils, or individually packaged condiments in a customer’s order for dine-in, drive-through, take-out, or delivery.
These items can only be provided upon customer request.
Which businesses does this apply to?
All retail food and beverage establishments are required to comply, including sit-down and fast food restaurants, food carts, bars, coffee and tea shops, grocery stores, convenience stores, hotels and motels, caterers, and food service contractors.
This includes educational, medical, and governmental institutions that provide food and beverages.
The only exception is for meals provided as part of a social service to vulnerable populations, including free or reduced-price meals provided by school systems, homeless shelters, and programs that deliver meals to the elderly.
Which items are included?
Plastic straws and stirrers. Plastic utensils, including forks, spoons, sporks, and knives.
Plastic-packaged condiments*, including individually packaged servings of ketchup, mustard, relish, mayonnaise, hot sauce, coffee creamer, jelly and jam, and soy sauce.
*The only exception is salad dressing or other condiments that are considered a key ingredient in the menu item. If the condiment is listed as an ingredient, an individually packaged single serving may be included with the item.
Plastic lids are not covered by this policy. Plastic ice-cream taster spoons are allowed, though we encourage switching to reusable metal taster spoons.
What about “compostable” plastics?
There is no exception for plastic items labeled “compostable,” “biodegradable,” or “made from plants.” These items cannot be composted in Portland. Additionally, they can have negative environmental impacts equal to or greater than conventional plastics and are unlikely to reduce plastic pollution in the ocean.
Access to straws for people with disabilities
Some people with disabilities find it difficult or impossible to drink without a straw, and plastic straws meet their needs better than paper or metal straws. Even if you would like to eliminate plastic straws entirely, we recommend you keep a small supply to provide when requested.
What your business needs to do
Table service
You can only provide plastic straws, stirrers, utensils, or individually packaged condiments if a customer requests them.
Counter service (dine-in or take-out)
In situations where customers order their food at a counter, food cart, or cafeteria line, you cannot automatically include plastic straws, stirrers, utensils, or condiment packets with a customer’s order.
Plastic straws, stirrers, or condiment packets must be kept behind the counter. If a customer is ordering food “to stay,” employees should only provide items if a customer requests them. If the customer is ordering “to go,” employees may ask a customer if they need any of the items.
You may put plastic utensils – including forks, spoons, and knives – in a customer self-serve area.
Grab and Go
In situations where customers get their own food or beverage and then pay a cashier, such as convenience stores, grocery stores, delis, you may put plastic utensils – including forks, spoons, and knives – in a customer self-serve area.
However, plastic straws, stirrers, and individually-packaged condiments* must be kept behind the counter. (You may ask customers if they need these items.)
*Switching from individually packaged condiments to bulk dispensers reduces packaging waste and makes it easier for customers to serve themselves the amount they want.
Drive-through, take-out, and delivery
You cannot automatically include plastic straws, stirrers, utensils, or condiment packets with a customer’s order, but you may ask customers if they need any of these items.
Online orders and delivery apps
You cannot automatically include plastic straws, stirrers, utensils, or condiment packets with a customer’s order.
If you want to provide these items, you must add a question in the ordering process asking customers if they need plastic items (utensils, straws or stirrers, or condiment packets) and provide only the items the customer requests.
Note: Your business is responsible for following this policy, even if the customer orders through a third-party app. If a customer is given these plastic items without being asked, your business could be fined.
Signs for customers
We suggest (but do not require) posting a sign to let customers know they need to ask for these items. You can make your own sign or download and print one of these:
Each printable page includes two signs: fold in half to create a table tent or cut in half for two individual signs. If you would like printed copies or suggestions for creating a custom sign, please contact us.
Penalties
Businesses found in violation of the policy will receive a written warning from the City of Portland.
If the business does not come into compliance, fines are set at $100 for the first violation, $200 for the second, and $500 for any subsequent violation in the same calendar year.
Report an out-of-compliance business
Fill out this short form or contact the City's Garbage and Recycling staff to let us know about a business that is not complying with the single-use plastics requirement.
We will contact the business to help them understand the rule and give them up to 30 days to come into compliance before charging fines.
Report an out-of-compliance business
More about the policy
Purpose of the policy
To reduce plastic litter and to reduce the use of energy and resources, including fossil fuels, needed to make items that are only used once.
How the policy was developed
Find out more about policy development and public feedback:
City code
Find more details about the policy at Portland City Code 17.103 Prohibition and Restrictions on Single-Use Plastic.
How businesses were notified
The City of Portland sent food-related businesses notification letters in June and September 2019, which included a sign for customers, in English, Chinese, Spanish, Vietnamese, Russian, and Korean:
State of Oregon “straw bill”
In May, 2019, the State of Oregon passed Senate Bill 90 which restricts straws to “by request” only. The State bill does not preempt Portland’s policy. Businesses within Portland’s city limits must comply with Portland’s policy, which covers not only straws, but also stirrers, utensils and individually packaged condiments.
How businesses benefit
Businesses can save money by reducing the quantities of single-use items provided to customers. Customers also want less disposable plastic. In a recent survey, respondents were overwhelmingly supportive of City action to reduce single-use plastics. Businesses who switch to reusable dishware and cutlery in dine-in situations also provide customers with a higher-quality dining experience.
Questions?
Contact the City's Garbage and Recycling assistance staff.