Canada’s ban on certain single-use plastics take effect this month
by CM staff
Over the next decade, this ban on single-use plastics will result in the estimated elimination of over 1.3 million tonnes of hard-to-recycle plastic waste and more than 22,000 tonnes of plastic pollution, which is equivalent to over one million full garbage bags.
MONTRÉAL — As of December 20, the manufacture and import for sale of the following harmful single-use plastics in Canada will be prohibited: checkout bags, cutlery, foodservice ware made from, or containing, problematic plastics that are hard to recycle, stir sticks and straws (with some exceptions).
“As climate change continues to pose a serious threat to our health, limiting plastic pollution is crucial not only for our environment, but for our overall well-being,” said said Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health. “With this ban, we are expected to avoid 1.3 million tonnes of plastic waste over the next ten years across Canada, leading to less pollution and healthier communities.”
The ban on the manufacture and import of ring carriers will enter into force in June 2023. Over the next decade, this ban on single-use plastics will result in the estimated elimination of over 1.3 million tonnes of hard-to-recycle plastic waste and more than 22,000 tonnes of plastic pollution, which is equivalent to over one million full garbage bags.
The Government is working with provinces, territories, and industries to set a collection target of 90 per cent for recycling plastic beverage bottles. It is also developing regulations to require that certain plastic packaging contain at least 50 per cent recycled content and to establish clear rules for labelling recyclable and compostable plastics. Draft regulations are targeted for publication as early as fall 2023. In addition, the Government is developing a plastic registry to hold plastic producers accountable for their plastic waste.
“We promised Canadians we would deliver a ban on certain harmful single-use plastics. Today, we’re following through on that commitment by prohibiting the manufacture and import in Canada of five of the six categories of these harmful single-use plastics,” said Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change. “With this ban, and our participation toward achieving a global treaty, we’re joining the global effort to reduce plastic pollution and protect our wildlife and habitats. There is a clear linkage between a world free of plastic pollution and a sustainable world, rich in biodiversity—a world that also best supports the health and economic security of Canadians, protects our environment, and helps in the fight against climate change.”
