I am writing to encourage Bend to take action against plastic pollution in our waterways. As an avid rock climber, I am drawn to the grandiose beauty of Oregon’s most wondrous and cherished state park, Smith Rock. During these trips, the natural beauty of Oregon’s east continues to amaze me. And while the city of Bend has maintained a certain reputation for environmentally conscious thought, I believe more can be done to absolve our society’s unfortunate side effects on the natural world.

Marine plastic pollution may not seem so pressing in Bend, 175 miles from the Oregon coast, but this notion disconnects the public from truly understanding the communal responsibility we have as Oregonians to protect our Pacific wildlife. Comprising up to 90 percent of floating marine debris, invasive plastic has wormed its way into the natural Pacific food chain. Sea turtles often mistake plastic bags for jellyfish, one of their main food sources, and one-third of dead Adriatic loggerhead sea turtles are found to have eaten plastic. Additionally, a beached gray whale was found off the Pacific coast in 2010 having consumed 20 plastic bags.

In 2011, state legislators failed to act on this issue by turning down a bill that would have banned disposable, one-time-use plastic bags. To secure a permanent victory over plastic pollution, I urge the Bend City Council to impose a citywide ban on wasteful plastic bags. We must show fellow Oregonians and the American public alike that this is a fight truly worth fighting.

Graham Abbott

Portland