The federal government announced a plan to ban single-use plastics by the year 2021, but will apparently consult with the public and with businesses first about what items these will include before enacting the legislation.
At first blush, it seems to be a well-intentioned proposal, as there are numerous reports of the oceans being filled with plastics of all sorts, and whales and fish being adversely affected.
The proposal is in part a reaction to the lacklustre level of recycling that Canadians are doing of plastics, as some reports peg recycling of plastics at around 11 per cent —meaning the remainder is in the landfill where it doesn’t break down, or in our ditches, lakes and rivers.
Part of the consideration here needs to be given to the businesses that manufacture the plastic, employing thousands of Canadians, and the many, many businesses that rely on the products, such as restaurants and fast food outlets which use containers and straws, and businesses that use plastic bags for shoppers.
Some businesses have begun charging five cents per plastic bag, encouraging people to bring in reusable bags or else to reuse their plastic bags.
In Weyburn, plastic bags, and most plastic containers, can be recycled, and indeed the efforts should be stepped up by all residents to do more recycling. Some businesses have already started replacing plastic straws with paper ones, and some encourage people to bring in travel mugs for coffee rather than using a stryofoam one.
A bulk food business in Montreal encourages their customers to come with containers and jars from home, so they aren’t using plastic containers or styrofoam to sell their products — this is an idea many other businesses could take up, if it’s applicable.
Where possible, more communities and residents across the country should be using recycling services more. It should be possible to recycle more than 11 per cent of plastics — the alternative is to start banning the use of single-use plastics, which will seriously impact on the jobs of thousands of Canadians, not to mention increase costs for the businesses that rely on these products.
If Canadians work together and care more about not scattering plastic items into the ditches or in parks and roadways, and about recycling, maybe the proposed law for 2021 doesn’t need to be enacted, because we’ll be taking care of it — just a thought.
