PORTLAND, OR — Today, Ocean Conservancy joined Oceana, Environment Oregon and Surfrider Foundation in support of Oregon legislation targeting plastic pollution. Nick Mallos, senior director of Ocean Conservancy’s Trash Free Seas program, released the following statement:

“Plastic food service ware and packaging are by far the most prevalent forms of plastic pollution that we see on beaches and waterways around the world during Ocean Conservancy’s annual International Coastal Cleanup. Polystyrene is particularly insidious as it is effectively unrecyclable and quickly breaks up into tiny pieces in the environment, where it persists indefinitely. We are thrilled that Oregon lawmakers are proposing legislation to target these items, as well as extended producer responsibility measures to make sure those responsible for putting these items on the market do their part to keep them out of the ocean.”

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Note to editors:

Nick Mallos is based out of Ocean Conservancy’s Portland, Ore., office. He is available for further comment upon request.

Photos of single-use plastics polluting our environment are available here. Additional photos may be available upon request. Infographics depicting the latest International Coastal Cleanup data, including the top 10 items found on beaches and waterways worldwide, are available here.

A 2019 report published by Ocean Conservancy found that extended producer responsibility (EPR) is one of the most effective means of financing waste collection and recycling systems critical to keeping plastics out of our ocean. Ocean Conservancy has since voiced support for EPR in the U.S.

About Ocean Conservancy’s Trash Free Seas® Program

Ocean Conservancy has led the fight for a clean, healthy ocean free of trash since 1986, when the U.S.-based nonprofit launched its annual International Coastal Cleanup (ICC). Since then, Ocean Conservancy has mobilized millions of ICC volunteers to remove trash from beaches and waterways around the world while pioneering upstream solutions to the growing ocean plastics crisis. Ocean Conservancy invests in cutting-edge scientific research, implements on-the-ground projects, and works with conservationists, scientists, governments, the private sector and members of the public to change the plastics paradigm. To learn more about our Trash Free Seas® program visit oceanconservancy.org/trashfreeseas, and follow Ocean Conservancy on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.