The Portland City Council is scheduled to vote Wednesday on an ordinance that would make plastic straws and utensils available by request only citywide.

Officials at Portland's Bureau of Planning and Sustainability came up with the proposal after the City Council directed them to in June, citing environmental damage caused by single-used plastics. To do that the bureau conducted a survey and convened a focus group with restauranteurs, business owners, a medical facility, people with disabilities and environmental advocates.

The group recommended against an outright ban to single-use plastics because some people with disabilities rely on them to drink. It settled instead on the by-request policy to be considered Wednesday. If adopted, the new rules would take effect July 1, 2019.

Portland has a long history of limiting the use of polluting products. It has restricted use of Styrofoam containers since 1990 and added a plastic bag ban in 2011.

-- Gordon R. Friedman